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Aeranthes nidus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 281 (1925).
Synonyms:
Aeranthes pseudonida H.Perrier, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 7: 47 (1938).
Description:
Plants caulescent 20-30 cm tall, often forming dense clumps, stem covered by the finely veined sheaths and bearing in the apical portion 7-10 graminiform leaves, lanceolate-linear (13-18 cm x 7- 10 mm, attenuate toward both ends. slightly rigid and .slightly curved. Inflorescences arranged as in Angraecum multilforum Thou., that is to say grouped in a lateral cluster arising from a primary peduncle, short (4-10 mm), thick obliquely descending, inserted at the base of the lower sheaths, persisting and emitting secondary, pendent inflorescences for several years; secondary inflorescences upright, single flowered, with the peduncle 1.5-4 cm long, bearing 3-5 sheaths which are shorter than the internodes: bracts 3 mm long; flowers whitish and small. Median sepal lanceolate (17 x 5 mm) and longly acuminate; lateral sepals narrower than the median, with the front margins dilate marginally in front. Petals shorter (14 x 5 mm) than the sepals, longly acuminate above the base, which is obovate-suborbicular. Labellum with the lamina sub truncate, auriculate basally, very longly (5 mm) acuminate apically, provided basally with 3 verrucose keels; spur cylindrical, 9 mm long; foot 2 mm long. Anther wide (1.2 mm), pollina whitish, sub spherical bandeletts twisted. Column 2.5 mm tall, auricles short, deltoid and subacute. Pedicel 7 mm long generally.
Habitat:
Epiphytes of trunks; in mossy forests, from 100-1400 m alt.; flowering in February.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
N. Madagascar
References:
Flora Of Madagascar Perrier 1938/85 as Aeranthes pseudonida; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans and 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. 21.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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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.	Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.