Aeranthes carnosa Toilh.-Gen., Ursch & Bosser in Adansonia, 16(1—2): 209 (1960).
Description:
Plant with a short stem. Leaves 4, leathery, ligulate, unequally and obtusely bilobed at the apex, 15-32 cm long, 2-3 cm wide. Inflorescence pendulous, simple or branched, 1- to 3-flowered; peduncle rigid, sheaths 3, shorter than the internodes, 20-70 cm long. Flowers green, fleshy; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, almost pandurate, subcordate at the base, acute, 2I-24 mm long, 9-10 mm wide; lateral sepals larger, widened towards the base, with short obtuse apex, 23-30 mm long, 15 mm wide; petals ovate-lanceolate, smaller than sepals, with short, robust apex scarcely acuminaIe,20-22 mm long, 8 mm wide; lip broadly ovate, base subcordate, apex rounded, subapiculate, 23-30 mm long, 13-18 mm wide at the upper third; column foot boat-shaped, slightly hairy within, 17 -20 mm long, constricted where it descends into the spur to 2 mm in diameter; spur in total 10-12 mm long, with a narrow mouth, expanded into a globular tip,7-8 mm long, 4-4.5 mm in diameter.
Habitat:
This species is an epiphyte found in humid moss forest. Found on moss- and lichen-covered trees.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
Eastern Madagascar.
References:
WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 21.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
