Angraecopsis Kraenzl. in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 171 (1900).
Synonyms:
Holmesia P.J.Cribb, Kew Bull. 32: 175 (1977), nom. illeg.
Microholmesia P.J.Cribb in D.J.Mabberley, Plant-book: 371 (1987).
Coenadenium (Summerh.) Szlach., Ann. Bot. Fenn. 40: 70 (2003).
A genus of about 15 species in tropical Africa, Madagascar and Mascarene Islands, with 7 species in the Flora Zambesiaca area.
Description:
Small, epiphytic, monopodial herbs. Leaves distichous, ligulate to oblanceolate, often falcate, unequally 2-lobed at the apex. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, few- to many-flowered. Flowers small, white, green or yellow, with a relatively long pedicel. Bracts small, sheathing at the base. Lateral sepals often oblanceolate and asymmetric at the base, usually longer than the dorsal sepal. Petals usually smaller, triangular, often adnate to lateral sepals at the base. Lip entire or 3-lobed, ecallose, spurred. Column short; rostellum 3-lobed or bifid; pollinia 2, stipites 2; viscidia 2, rarely 1.
Distribution:
Trop. Africa, W. Indian Ocean
Cultivation:
All the species can be maintained in cultivation. The smaller ones are mach easier if they are mounted on a piece of hardwood or bark and all can be grown in this way. Angraecopsis gracillima also grows well in free-draining compost in a pot. The smaller species come from higher altitudes and therefore need cooler conditions at night and benefit from drying out periodically.
Notes:
Summerhayes, in Bot. Mus. Leafl. (Harv. Univ.) 14: 242–261 (1951), divided the genus into 3 sections.
Angraecopsis section Angraecopsis
Description:
Plants small to medium-sized; peduncle usually much longer than the rhachis; lateral sepals much longer than the dorsal sepal; petals triangular, acute; lip 3-lobed, with linear or ligulate side lobes; pollinia each attached by long stipites to a separate viscidium.
Angraecopsis section Cardiochilus Summerh.
Description:
Plants very small; peduncle shorter than the rhachis; sepals unequal; petals elliptic-ovate, rounded; lip entire, cordate or ovate; viscidia 2.
Angraecopsis section Coenadenium Summerh.
Description:
Plants small; peduncle equaling or shorter than the rhachis; sepals +/- unequal; petals ovate or lanceolate; lip entire or 3-lobed; pollinia attached by 2 short stipites to a common viscidium.
Angraecopsis species not in location now.
Bibliography and References:
Cribb P. 1996 New species and records of Orchidaceae from West Africa. Kew Bull. 51. (2): 353-363 (1996)
Cribb PJ, Herrmann C, Demissew Sebsebe. 2002 New records of orchids from Ethiopia. Lindleyana 17. (1): 178-188 (2002)
Leroux A. 2005 Angraecopsis gracillima (Rolfe) Summerhayes. Orchidophile 36. 205-206
Pottinger M. 1982 African orchids: Acampe, Aeranthes, Ancistrorhynchus. Angraecopsis andAnsellia Orchid Rev. 90(1062) 132-134 (1982)
Stevart T, Cribb P. 2004 New species and records of Orchidaceae from Sao Tome and Principe. Kew Bull. 59. (1): 77-86 (2004)
Teuscher H. 1977 Collector's item: Angraecopsis, Bolusiella and Tridactyle. Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 46. (12): 1109 - 1114 (1977)
Rasmussen, F.N. (1978) Observations on the genus Angraecopsis (Orchidacaeae). Norwegian Journal of Botany, 25, 137-144.
Summerhayes V.S., 1951. A revision of the genus Angraecopsis. Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harvard Univ. 41: 240-261.
Leroux, A. (2005) Angraecopsis gracillima (Rolfe) Summerhayes. L'Orchidophile, 166, 205.