Aeranthes bathieana Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 275 (1925).
Description:
Plants compact, with a short (5 cm.) and very thick (8-l0 mm.) stem, clad by the sheaths and densely leafy ( to as many as 12 leaves). Leaves oblong-lingulate or oval-elliptical (5-6 x 1.3-1.7 cm.) and fleshy coriaccous Inflorescence upright rigid 6-15 cm. long ordinarily longer than the leaves, unifoliate, 4 flowers or sometimes with 1-2 single flowered branches; peduncle setiform, with 4-7 distant sheaths, apiculate and tightls appressed; bracts longer than the pedicel; flowers thin, small, white with the ex-tremities yellowish. finely and densely furfuraceus. Sepals 14 mm. long, oval then longly acuminate-obtuse. Petals 12 mm long oval-elliptical then longly acuminate, very similar to the sepals. Labellum oval subtruncate (5 x 4 mm,) obtusely apiculate apically nearly retuse-truncate basally; and provided above with 2 short. very reduced midribs. Column 1,5 mm tall. Spur connical-cylindrical 5mm. long slightly enlarged at the orifice. Pedicel 3-4 mm. long.
Habitat:
Epiphyte: in mossy forests from 2000 m. alt.; flowering in February.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
C. Madagascar. Endemic.
References:
WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 21.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
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