Angraecum
Angraecum didieri
Angraecum infundibulare
Pronunciation: an-GRAY-cum
Scientific Classification
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Subfamily: Epidendroideae
- Tribe: Vandaeae
- Subtribe: Angraecinae
- Alliance: Angraecum
- Genus: Angraecum, Bory 1804
General Characteristics
- most are epiphytes
- flowers are mostly white, sometimes yellow, green or ochre
- monopodial
- strap leafed
- lateral, axillary, racemose
The genus Angraecum, abbreviated as Angcm in horticultural trade, contains about 220 species, some of them among most magnificent of all orchids. They are commonly known as “comet orchids.” They are quite varied vegetatively and florally and are adapted to dry tropical woodland habitat. Most are epiphytes, but a few are lithophytes, and inflorescence with one to many flowers. The flowers are mostly white in color, sometimes yellow, green or ochre. As a common rule the flowers are long lasting, some are fragrant, they all have a long spur at the back of the lip.
Tropical Africa and Madagascar contain the majority of the genus with outlying species in southeast Asia. But these orchids can also be found on the Comoros, the Seychelles, and the Mascarenes.
Culture
- Temperature: Warm to intermediate; depending on whether the species comes from lowland or montane habitat.
- Light: Again, depending on the natural habitat with the cooler growing species generally requiring more shade than the warmer growing ones.
- Water & Humidity: 40-70% humidity; apply liberal amounts of water during the active growing season but provide very good drainage.
- Fertilizer: Monthly; ratio depends on medium used.
- Potting: An open, well draining epiphytic mix; tree fern, bark or osmunda
Selected Species
- Angraecum birrimense {W. & WC. Tropical Africa}
- Angraecum borbonicum {Réunion}
- Angraecum calceolus {Mozambique to W. Indian Ocean}
- Angraecum caulescens {Mascarenes & Madagascar}
- Angraecum conchiferum {Kenya to S. Africa}
- Angraecum crassum {NE. Madagascar}
- Angraecum cucullatum {Réunion}
- Angraecum didieri {Madagascar}
- Angraecum distichum {W. Tropical Africa to Angola & Uganda}
- Angraecum eburneum {SE. Kenya to E Tanzania, Pemba, Zanzibar, W Indian Ocean}
- Angraecum eburneum ssp. eburneum {W. Indian Ocean}
- Angraecum eburneum ssp. giryamae {SE. Kenya to E. Tanzania, Pemba & Zanzibar}
- Angraecum eburneum ssp. superbum {Seychelles, Comoros & Madagascar}
- Angraecum eburneum ssp. xerophilum {SW. Madagascar}
- Angraecum eburneum var. longicalcar
- Angraecum expansum {Réunion}
- Angraecum expansum ssp. expansum {Réunion}
- Angraecum expansum ssp. inflatum {Réunion}
- Angraecum filicornu {Mascarenes & Madagascar}
- Angraecum germinyanum {Mascarenes, Comoros & Madagascar}
- Angraecum implicatum {Réunion, Madagascar}
- Angraecum infundibulare {Nigeria to E. Tropical Africa}
- Angraecum leonis {Comoros & Madagascar}
- Angraecum mauritianum {Mascarenes & Madagascar}
- Angraecum palmiforme {Mascarenes}
- Angraecum pyriforme
- Angraecum ramosum {Mascarenes}
- Angraecum sanfordii
- Angraecum scottianum {Comoros}
- Angraecum sesquipedale {S. & E. Madagascar}
- Angraecum sesquipedale var. angustifolium (SW. Madagascar}
- Angraecum sesquipedale var. sesquipedale {S. & E. Madagascar}
- Angraecum viguieri {Madagascar}
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