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Jumellea arborescens H.Perrier, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 7: 58 (1938).
Description:
Plants to 1m tall, stem slightly compressed (8-10 mm in diameter) covered above the base by the cylindrical sheaths and bearing nearly 20 leaves, distichous, very rigid, elliptical-oblong (11-12 x 1.6-2.2 cm), pleated-contracted toward the base, terminal lobes obtuse and subequal. Inflorescences arising from the lower leaves: peduncle 2.5-3 cm covered to the center by the loose, obtuse sheaths; bracts tubular, flared lengthwise, and obtuse and 1.2 cm long, flowers white, very large, peduncle 6 cm long. Median sepal lanceolate, 2.3.2.4 cm long, contracted-gutter shaped, enlarged and thin above the bane, then thickened and attenuate-obtuse apically, lateral sepals nearly similar, Petals lanceolate-linear, longer than the sepals, but narrower (3mm) thinner and 5 veined, veins obsolete below the center, where the petals are thick and opaque. Labellum 2.4 cm long, unguis elongated (7 mm), enlarged medially (5.5 mm wide), thicker and gradually attenuate-acute, provided toward the base with a thick keel, which continues into the spur, spur 11-12 cm long, straight for 2 cm, then curved and gradually attenuate. Anther (2.5 mm), excised in front, with an upright, deltoid tooth in the middle of the notch and on each edge, a very small acute tooth: pollina small, obtriangular. cauda retracted, bandeletts hyaline and oblong (1 x 0.5 mm). Column 5 mm long, arms 3.5 mm long: arms 3.5 mm long and acute, auricles nearly square (2 x 2.5 mm), obtuse on both edges: median tongue of the rostellum linear and longer than the auricles.
Habitat:
Jumellea arborescens is a native of central Madagascar at elevations of around 1,400 meters (4,700 feet). There it grows epiphytically or lithophytically in moss forest, and flowers in February.
Cultivation:
You can grown this species under intermediate conditions, potted in fir bark mix in a 4-inch pot under medium to lower light levels. Flowering has occurred every year with no observable problems
Notes:
Even though this species is not small, it should be considered a smaller medium sized plant. It displays its flowers rather nicely all at the same time, and they last for 3 weeks. Flowering in the northern hemisphere usually takes place in mid-summer (July-August). Is flowering in February.
Distribution:
EC. Madagascar
References:
Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 14.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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Photograph© Etienne                Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne                 Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne                Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne       Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne                Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne                 Vennetier Image used with kind permission.