Erasanthe henrici (Schltr.) P.J.Cribb, Hermans & D.L.Roberts, Adansonia, III, 29: 28 (2007).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Aeranthes henrici Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 278 (1925).
Description:
Plants heavy, acaulis or with a thick stem (15 mm in diameter) but very short with the roots thick (6- 7 cm): leaves 4-6 lingutate (9-23 x 1.6-5.5 cm), coriaceous and with the margins often undulate. Inflorescence pendent, 12-40 cm long; peduncle 6-15 cm, with 2-3 sheaths which are shorter than the internodes; 3-6 flowered, flowers pure white, very large; bracts oval-obtuse, generally 15 mm long equal to one-third the length of the pedicel. Sepals lanceolate, elongated in a filiment, 11 cm long generally, the lateral with their front margins slightly enlarged above the base. Petals lanceolate, elongated in a filiment to a total length of about 9 cm. Labellum to alt of 10cm long, the limbus very wide (3.8 cm) above the base, ciliate- fimbriate marginally, elongated in front by a linguiform lamina, truncate apically and tipped by a long setifomi-filiform acumin (6 cm long). Foot in a very wide funnel, elongated with a filiform-cylindrical spur, 6 cm. long. Column 8 mm tall. Pedicel generally 4 cm long. Capsule longly (3 cm), 4 pedicellate, narrowly elliptical (7 x 1.5 cm), attenuate toward both ends, with the dorsal angles 3 winged and slightly more projecting than the ends.
Habitat:
This orchid is found in a rather narrow range in windswept locations at about 3300 ft. (1000 m). It grows on trees in the humid forests of central Madagascar. Flowers in April.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Erasanthe henrici (Schltr.) P.J.Cribb, Hermans & D.L.Roberts
Distribution:
Madagascar
References:
Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; An Introduction to the Cultivated Angraecoid Orchids of Madagascar Hillerman & Holst 1986; Manual of Cultivated Orchids Bechtel, Cribb, Laurent 1992; The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchds Pridgeon 1992; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1981; AOS Bulletin Vol 67 No 2 1998; AOS Bulletin Vol 75 No 8 2006; Orchids Australia Vol 10 No 4 1998; 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. 27.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture |
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| Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph© Olaf Pronk. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph© Olaf Pronk. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph© Olaf Pronk. Image used with kind permission. |
