Read more of Cultivation of Ancistrochilus rothschildianus O'Brien
Light:
1800-2500 fc. Strong air movement is recommended at all times.
Temperatures:
Conditions vary only slightly throughout the year. Days average 74-80F (23-27C), nights average 62-64F (17-18C), and the diurnal range is 12-17F (7-9C).
Humidity:
85-90% from summer through autumn, dropping to 75-80% in winter and spring.
Water:
Rainfall is very heavy from spring through autumn, with a 2-3 month dry season in winter. Cultivated plants should be kept evenly moist and not be allowed to dry out completely between waterings while they are in active growth. However, water should be gradually reduced in late autumn after new growths mature.
Fertilizer:
A solution mixed at 1/4–1/2 recommended strength should be applied weekly while plants are actively growing. A high-nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial from spring to midsummer, but a fertilizer high in phosphates should be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Growing temperatures should be maintained throughout the year. While rainfall is less in winter, some does fall each month, and additional moisture is available from frequent heavy dews in the rainforest habitat. For cultivated plants, water should be reduced but not eliminated for 3 months in winter. Plants should be allowed be become almost dry between waterings. The normal watering schedule should be resumed in spring when new growth becomes evident. Growers report that a 54F (12C) dry rest is needed after leaf fall, but this is cooler than indicated by the climate table. However, keep in mind that the 3000 ft. (910 m) elevation used for habitat elevation is our interpretation of "grows at moderate elevations" If the habitat is actually at 5000 ft. (1520 m), temperatures would be 6-8F (3-4C) cooler than indicated in the table. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated during the dry rest and resumed when watering is increased in spring.
Growing media:
Growers recommend a mix of fine fir bark with about 10% charcoal and 10% perlite added. Because long rhizomes result in a rather rambling growth habit, baskets, shallow pots, or bulb pans are generally preferred. This is especially true when growing a large, specimen type plant. The shallow depth of the container allows faster drying so that the medium does not become stale or soggy. Pots are usually filled about half with medium of coarse fir bark for improved drainage. The plants is set in place and the pot filled with fine bark or the mix previously mentioned. Since the plant is naturally an epiphyte, slab culture could probably also be used, but we have not found a single reference to its use in cultivation. Also, we have found no reference to the use of tree-fern fiber as a medium for A. rothschildianus. It should work well, however, especially in baskets or in drier regions where a medium that retains more moisture is desired.
Miscellaneous notes:
These plants have a growth and blooming habit very similar to the autumn blooming Pleiones. We treat them much the same, except for warmer temperatures and a little more water for the Ancistrochilus during the winter rest. Our winter minimum temperatures are held at about 60F (15C) with occasional brief drops to near 55F (13C) during exceptionally cold periods.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
Bechtel, H., P. Cribb, and E. Launert. 1980. Manual of cultivated orchid species. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. Hamilton, R. M. 1988. When does it flower? 2nd ed. Robert M. Hamilton, 9211 Beckwith Road, Richmond, B.C., Canada V6X 1V7. Northen, R. T. 1980. Miniature orchids. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York. Segerbäck, L. B. 1983. Orchids of Nigeria. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam. Stewart, J. 1979. An Introduction to the orchid genera of Africa--from A to Z. American Orchid Society Bulletin 48(2):151.
Genus Ancistrochilus
Read more of Cultivation of Ancistrochilus thomsonianus (Rchb.f.) Rolfe
Light:
1200-2000 fc. Strong air movement is recommended at all times.
Temperatures:
Conditions vary only slightly throughout the year. Days average 74-80F (23-27C), nights average 62-64F (17-18C), and the diurnal range is 12-17F (7-9C).
Humidity:
85-90% from summer through autumn, dropping to 75-80% in winter and spring.
Water:
Rainfall is very heavy from spring through autumn, with a 2-3 month dry season in winter. Cultivated plants should be kept evenly moist and not be allowed to dry out completely between waterings while they are in active growth. However, water should be gradually reduced in late autumn after new growths mature.
Fertilizer:
A solution mixed at 1/4-1/2 recommended strength should be applied weekly while plants are actively growing. A high-nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial from spring to midsummer, but a fertilizer high in phosphates should be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Growing temperatures should be maintained throughout the year. While rainfall is less in winter, some does fall each month, and additional moisture is available from frequent heavy dews in the rainforest habitat. For cultivated plants, water should be reduced but not eliminated for 3 months in winter. Plants should be allowed be become almost dry between waterings. The normal watering schedule should be resumed in spring when new growth becomes evident. Growers report that a 54F (12C) dry rest is needed after leaf fall, but this is cooler than indicated by the climate table. However, keep in mind that the 3000 ft. (910 m) elevation used for habitat elevation is our interpretation of "grows at moderate elevations" If the habitat is actually at 5000 ft. (1520 m), temperatures would be 6-8F (3-4C) cooler than indicated in the table. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated during the dry rest and resumed when watering is increased in spring.
Growing media:
Hawkes (1965) recommended that these plants be grown the same as the evergreen, tropical Dendrobiums and Bulbophyllums. Some growers recommend using a mix of fine fir bark with about 10% charcoal and 10% perlite added. Because long rhizomes may result in a rather rambling growth habit, baskets, shallow pots, or bulb pans are generally preferred. This is especially true when growing a large, specimen type plant. The shallow depth of the container allows faster drying so that the medium does not become stale or soggy. Pots are usually filled about half with medium of coarse fir bark for improved drainage. The plant is set in place and the pot filled with fine bark or the mix previously mentioned. Since the plant is naturally an epiphyte, slab culture could probably also be used, but we have not found a single reference referring to its use in cultivation. In addition, we have found no reference to the use of tree-fern fiber as a medium. It should work well, however, especially in baskets or in drier regions where a medium that retains more moisture is desired. Plants should be repotted when the medium starts to break down or when the plant has outgrown the container. Repotting is best done just as new roots start to grow, as this allows the plant to become reestablished as quickly as possible.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
Hamilton, R. 1988. When does it flower? 2nd ed. Robert M. Hamilton, 9211 Beckwith Road, Richmond, B. C., Canada V6X 1V7. Hawkes, A. (1965) 1987. Encyclopaedia of cultivated orchids. Faber and Faber, London. Hutchinson, J., and J. Dalziel, ed. 1968. Flora of west tropical Africa, vol. 3-part 1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Kew Data Base. 2009. http.//apps.kew.org/wcsp/home.do la Croix, I. and E. la Croix. 1997. African orchids in the wild and in cultivation. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
A key to the genus Ancistrochilus Rolfe
| 1a. | Pseudobulbs orbicular, flattened, up to 2•5 cm. diam.; leaves narrowly lanceolate or elliptical-lanceolate, up to 21 cm. long and 3 cm. broad; sepals and petals lanceolate, acuminate, 3•5-4•5 cm. long, white, greenish at base; lip middle lobe 16-25 mm. long, very slender, often more or less recurved, bright purple, side lobes green with brown markings. | Ancistrochilus thomsonianus |
| 1b. | Pseudobulbs conical or pyriform, up to 5 cm. diam.; leaves lanceolate, elliptical-lanceolate or oblanceolate, up to 40 cm. long and 7•5 cm. broad; sepals broadly lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute or obtuse, 2-3 cm. long; petals oblanceolate, distinctly narrower than the sepals but only slightly shorter; all tepals rose-coloured to mauve, rarely almost white; lip middle lobe 8-12 mm. long, purple with a yellow apex, side lobes green with brown markings | Ancistrochilus rothschildianus |
World Checklist of Monocotyledons. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/monocots/ accessed 26/06/2020
Ancistrochilus thomsonianus (Rchb.f.) Rolfe in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 7: 44 (1897).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Pachystoma thomsonianum Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1879(2): 582 (1879).
Ipsea thomsoniana (Rchb.f.) Pfitzer in H.G.A.Engler & K.A.E.Prantl (eds.), Nat. Pflanzenfam. 2(6): 154 (1888).
Description:
A rather small epiphytic plant with growths to about 23 cm tall, with growths spaced at short intervals along a creeping rhizome. Pseudobulb about 3.8 cm long by 2.5 cm in diameter. The roundish or orbicular pseudobulb somewhat flattened and is usually covered with fibrous brownish sheaths. Leaves about 20 cm long by 3 cm wide. One to three narrowly lanceolate, heavily textured leaves that taper to sharply pointed tips are produced from the apex of the pseudobulb and held in erect to obliquely ascending or arching positions. They taper below to a narrow, stalked base and are longitudinally ribbed with numerous fanlike folds. Inflorescencep to 23 cm long. One or two erect to ascending or arching inflorescences are produced from the base of th ue pseudobulbs. Flowers up to 2-4 per inflorescence. The large, spreading, rather heavily fragrant, long-lasting flowers are up to 9 cm across. The spreading sepals and petals are white. The lip has a purple midlobe, while the lateral lobes are greenish, and the column is green spotted with red. Sepals and petals are lanceolate, taper to sharply pointed tips, taper below to narrow bases, and measure 3.5-4.5 cm long. The erect dorsal sepal is the widest, while the narrower obliquely divergent lateral sepals are somewhat sickle-shaped. The petals are more or less horizontally spreading. The 3-lobed lip has erect, somewhat squarish or oblong lateral lobes that are bluntly pointed. The long, narrowly triangular midlobe is 1.6-2.5 cm long, tapers to a sharply pointed, recurved apex, and is traversed by 5 raised longitudinal purple line that gradually coalesce toward the apex. The slender, arching column is semiterete and about 1.5 cm long.
Habitat:
Plants grow in forests in Cameroon and Nigeria. Specific details of habitat elevation have not been reported, but Hutchinson & Dalziel (1968) reported that plants have been found near Calabar, Nigera, and La Croix & La Croix (1997) reported that these plants grow in similar habitat to Ancistrochilus rothschildianus and should thrive in the same conditions.
Culture:
Read more of Cultivation of Ancistrochilus thomsonianus (Rchb.f.) Rolfe
Distribution:
S. Nigeria to WC. Trop. Africa
References:
Hamilton, R. 1988. When does it flower? 2nd ed. Robert M. Hamilton, 9211 Beckwith Road, Richmond, B. C., Canada V6X 1V7. Hawkes, A. (1965) 1987. Encyclopaedia of cultivated orchids. Faber and Faber, London. Hutchinson, J., and J. Dalziel, ed. 1968. Flora of west tropical Africa, vol. 3-part 1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Kew Data Base. 2009. http.//apps.kew.org/wcsp/home.do la Croix, I. and E. la Croix. 1997. African orchids in the wild and in cultivation. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | In culture |
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| Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
Ancistrochilus rothschildianus O'Brien, Gard. Chron. 41: 51 (1907).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Ancistrochilus hirsutissimus Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 51: 386 (1914).
Pachystoma rothschildianum Sander, Sander's Orch. Guide, ed. rev.,: 363 (1927).
Description:
Pseudobulbs up to 5 cm in diameter and tall, conical or pyriform. Leaves 2 on the top of pseudobulbs, petiolate; petiole up to 5 cm long, canaliculate, narrow; blade 10-20 (exceptionally up to 40) cm long, 2-5(7.5) cm wide, elliptic-lanceolate, lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute acuminate, plicate, thin. Inflorescence up to 10 cm long, laxly 1-3-flowered, axis densely pubescent with few bracts. Flowers medium-sized, resupinate, white to mauve, lip with a lot of dark mauve in which purple-colour is stained green and yellow; parfum agreable. Floral bract up to 10 mm long, ovate, obtuse to subacute, scarious, softly and densely pubescent outside. Pedicel and vary up to 30 mm long, slender, slightly arcuate : erect, densely pubescent. Tepals thin-textured. Dorsal sepal 18-30 mm long, 6.5-9 mm wide, oblong- to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, densely pubescent outside, with 7 unbranched nerves. Petals 17-27 mm long, 4.2-6.5 mm wide, obliquely oblong-lanceolate, subacute to acute usually 6-nerved. Lateral sepals slightly shorter than the dorsal one, obliquely elliptic-lanceolate to semi-elliptic, acute, densely pubescent outside, with 7 unbranched nerves. Lip distinctly 3-lobed, densely papillate on both surfaces, slightly saccate at the base, with 3-5 longitudinal thickenings in the centre; lateral lobes 5-6 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, oblong-ovate to elliptic, obtuse, upcurved in natural position; the middle lobe 8-12 mm long, to 2 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, acute, recurved in the apical half. Gynostemium 10-15 mm long, slender, slightly arcuate, column foot 3-5 mm long, densely pubescent on the ventral surface.
Habitat:
It is a rare epiphytic orchid of rainforests, usually growing at moderate heights near the coast. However, it is sometimes found inland, where its habitat extends eastward into the rainforests of central Uganda.
Flower time:
Rothschild's Ancistrochilus blooms in the winter, summer and fall.
Culture:
Read more of Cultural information Ancistrochilus rothschildianus O'Brien
Distribution:
W. Trop. Africa to Uganda
References:
Orchids of East Africa Piers 1968; AOS Bulletin Vol 48 No 2 1979; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 2 Cribb 1984; Simon & Schuster's Guide to Orchids; Miniature Orchids Northern 1988; Manual of Cultivated Orchids Bechtel, Cribb, Laurent 1992; The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchid Pridgeon 1992; AOS Bulletin Vol 62 No 2 1993; AOS Bulletin Vol 63 No 7 1994; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; AOS Bulletin Vol 69 No 10 2000; AOS Bulletin Vol 71 No 2 2002; Flora's Orchids Nash and La Croix 2005; Botanica's Orchids Laurel Glenn 2002; African Orchids in the wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; AOS Bulletin Vol 76 No 9 2007
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture |
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| Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
