Angraecum

The genus Angraecum, abbreviated as Angcm in horticultural trade, common name Angrec or Comet Orchid, contains about 220 species.

Distribution

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. They occur between sea level and 2,000 m in humid regions.

Description

They are quite varied vegetatively and florally and are adapted to dry tropical woodland habitat and have quite fleshy leaves as a consequence. Most are epiphytes, but a few are lithophytes.

The long-lasting flowers are racemose and grow from the leaf axils. They are mostly white, but a few are yellow, green or ochre. They all have a long spur at the back of the labellum (lip).

In the case of Angraecum sesquipedale, a species from Madagascar, on observing the 30cm spur in the lip, Charles Darwin made the hypothesis that, since the nectar was at the bottom of the spur, a pollinator must exist with a tongue at least that long. Otherwise the orchid could never be pollinated. At the time, he was not believed. However, in 1903, the predicted pollinator was discovered, a hawk moth then named Xanthopan morganii praedicta ("praedicta" meaning "the predicted one"). It has an appropriately long proboscis. The specific name sesquipedale means "one foot and a half", referring to the length of the spur. This is a perfect example of mutual dependence of an orchid and a specific pollinator.

Culture

Plants are best grown hanged in baskets and on mounted and usually require moderate sunlight and warm temperatures. Plants must be watered frequently in the summer and reduced to a daily misting during the winter except for warm winter days. If potted should be grown in media that is well drained such as tree fern fibers (for small plants),several pieces of medium fir bark, or sphagnum moss.

Angraecums flower best when in a lighter position. Most Angraecums will have their leaves for a number of years so any sun burn spots are ugly for a significant period and also may expose your plant to disease. In indirect sunlight your Angraecums will reward you with blooms and attractive growth.

Naming

The name is Malaysian and refers to its vanda like appearance.

Synonyms

1. Aeranthus Rchb.f 1826
2. Aerobion Spreng. 1826
3. Angorkis Thou. 1809
4. Angorchis Spreng 1822
5. Barombia Schlechter 1914
6. Epidorchis Thou. 1822
7. Macroplectrum Pfitz. 1889
8. Monixus Finet 1907
9. Pectinaria Cordem. 1819

Taxonomy

1. Section Acaulia
2. Section Dolabrifolia
3. Section Pectinaria
4. Section Perrierangraecum
5. Section Conchoglossum
6. Section Filangis
7. Section Angraecoides
8. Section Pseudojoumellea
9. Section Arachnangraecum
10. Section Gomphocentrum
11. Section Lepervenchea
12. Section Lemurangis
13. Section Nana
14. Section Boryangraecum
15. Section Chlorangraecum
16. Section Hadrangis
17. Section Humblotiangraecum
18. Section Afrangraecum
19. Section Angraecum

Species

Angraecum acutipetalum Schltr., 1916. Angraecum acutipetalum var. acutipetalum. Angraecum acutipetalum var. analabeensis H.Perrier ex Hermans, 2007. Angraecum acutipetalum var. ankeranae H.Perrier ex Hermans, 2007. Angraecum affine Schltr., 1905. Angraecum alleizettei Schltr., 1922. Angraecum aloifolium Hermans & P.J.Cribb, 1997. Angraecum ambrense H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum amplexicaule Toill.-Gen. & Bosser, 1961. Angraecum ampullaceum Bosser, Adansonia, 1970. Angraecum andasibeense H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum andringitranum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum angustipetalum Rendle, 1913. Angraecum angustum (Rolfe) Summerh. in J.Hutchinson & J.M.Dalziel, 1936. Angraecum ankeranense H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum aporoides Summerh., 1964. Angraecum appendiculoides Schltr., 1922. Angraecum arachnites Schltr., 1925. Angraecum astroarche Ridl., 1887. Angraecum aviceps Schltr., 1925. Angraecum bancoense Burg, 1980. Angraecum baronii (Finet) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum bemarivoense Schltr., 1925. Angraecum bicallosum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum birrimense Rolfe, 1914. Angraecum borbonicum Bosser, 1988. Angraecum brachyrhopalon Schltr., 1925. Angraecum bracteosum Balf.f. & S.Moore,1876. Angraecum breve Schltr., 1925. Angraecum brevicornu Summerh., 1962. Angraecum cadetii Bosser, 1987 publ. 1988. Angraecum calceolus Thouars, 1822. Angraecum caricifolium H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum caulescens Thouars, 1822. Angraecum chaetopodum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum chamaeanthus Schltr., 1915. Angraecum chermezoni H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum chimanimaniense G.Will., 1996. Angraecum cilaosianum (Cordem.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum claessensii De Wild., 1916. Angraecum clareae Hermans & la Croix & P.J.Cribb, 2001. Angraecum clavigerum Ridl., 1885. Angraecum compactum Schltr., 1916. Angraecum compressicaule H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum conchiferum Lindl., 1836. Angraecum conchoglossum Schltr., 1918. Angraecum cordemoyi Schltr., 1915. Angraecum coriaceum (Thunb. ex Sw.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum cornigerum Cordem., 1899. Angraecum cornucopiae H.Perrier, 1955. Angraecum corynoceras Schltr., 1925. Angraecum costatum Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum coutrixii Bosser, 1970. Angraecum crassifolium (Cordem.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum crassum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum cribbianum Szlach. & Olszewski, 2001. Angraecum cucullatum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum cultriforme Summerh., 1958. Angraecum curnowianum (Rchb.f.) T.Durand & Schinz, 1894. Angraecum curvicalcar Schltr., 1925. Angraecum curvicaule Schltr., 1925. Angraecum curvipes Schltr., 1905. Angraecum danguyanum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum dasycarpum Schltr., 1918. Angraecum dauphinense (Rolfe) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum decaryanum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum decipiens Summerh., 1966. Angraecum dendrobiopsis Schltr., 1925. Angraecum didieri (Baill. ex Finet) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum distichum Lindl., 1836. Angraecum dives Rolfe in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), 1897. Angraecum dollii Senghas, 1997. Angraecum doratophyllum Summerh., 1937. Angraecum drouhardii H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum dryadum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum eburneum Bory, 1804. Angraecum eburneum subsp. eburneum. Angraecum eburneum subsp. giryamae (Rendle) Senghas & P.J.Cribb, 1979. Angraecum eburneum var. longicalcar Bosser, 1965. Angraecum eburneum subsp. superbum (Thouars) H.Perrier, 1941. Angraecum eburneum subsp. xerophilum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum egertonii Rendle, 1913. Angraecum eichlerianum Kraenzl., 1882. Angraecum eichlerianum var. curvicalcaratum Szlach. & Olszewski, 2001. Angraecum eichlerianum var. eichlerianum. Angraecum elephantinum Schltr., 1919. Angraecum elliotii Rolfe, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 29: 54 (1891. Angraecum equitans Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 339 (1916. Angraecum erectum Summerh., Kew Bull. 11: 232 (1956. Angraecum expansum Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: 57 (1822. Angraecum expansum subsp. expansum. Angraecum expansum subsp. inflatum Cordem. in ?. Angraecum falcifolium Bosser, 1970. Angraecum ferkoanum Schltr., 1918. Angraecum filicornu Thouars, 1822. Angraecum firthii Summerh., 1958. Angraecum flavidum Bosser, 1970. Angraecum floribundum Bosser, 1970. Angraecum florulentum Rchb.f., 1885. Angraecum gabonense Summerh., 1953 publ. 1954. Angraecum geniculatum G.Will., 1990. Angraecum germinyanum Hook.f., 1889. Angraecum guillauminii H.Perrier, 1950. Angraecum hermannii (Cordem.) Schltr.,1915. Angraecum humbertii H.Perrier, 1939. Angraecum humblotianum Schltr., 1915. Angraecum humile Summerh., 1958. Angraecum huntleyoides Schltr., 1906. Angraecum imerinense Schltr., 1925. Angraecum implicatum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum inapertum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum infundibulare Lindl.,1862. Angraecum keniae Kraenzl., 1893. Angraecum kranzlinianum H.Perrier, 1941. Angraecum laggiarae Schltr., 1918. Angraecum lecomtei H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum leonis (Rchb.f.) André, 1885. Angraecum letouzeyi Bosser, 1989 publ. 1990. Angraecum liliodorum Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum linearifolium Garay, 1972. Angraecum lisowskianum Szlach. & Olszewski, 2001. Angraecum litorale Schltr., 1925. Angraecum longicaule H.Perrier, 1955. Angraecum longinode Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum macilentum Frapp. in ?. Angraecum madagascariense (Finet) Schltr., 1918. Angraecum magdalenae Schltr. & H.Perrier, 1925. Angraecum magdalenae var. latiilabellum Bosser,1965. Angraecum magdalenae var. magdalenae. Angraecum mahavavense H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum mauritianum (Poir.) Frapp.,1889. Angraecum meirax (Rchb.f.) H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum melanostictum Schltr., 1918. Angraecum metallicum Sander, 1901. Angraecum microcharis Schltr., 1925. Angraecum minus Summerh., 1958. Angraecum minutum Frapp. ex Cordem.,1895. Angraecum mirabile Schltr., Repert. 1918. Angraecum moandense De Wild., 1916. Angraecum modicum Summerh., 1958. Angraecum mofakoko De Wild., 1916. Angraecum moratii Bosser, 1970. Angraecum multiflorum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum multinominatum Rendle, 1913. Angraecum muscicolum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum musculiferum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum myrianthum Schltr., 1913. Angraecum nanum Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum nasutum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum oberonia Finet, 1907. Angraecum obesum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum oblongifolium Toill.-Gen. & Bosser, 1961. Angraecum obversifolium Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum ochraceum (Ridl.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum oeonioides Bosser, 2007. Angraecum onivense H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum palmicolum Bosser, 1989 publ. 1990. Angraecum palmiforme Thouars, 1822. Angraecum panicifolium H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum parvulum Ayres ex S.Moore in J.G.Baker, 1877. Angraecum pauciramosum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum pectinatum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum penzigianum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum pergracile Schltr., 1925. Angraecum perhumile H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum perparvulum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum petterssonianum Geerinck, 1990. Angraecum peyrotii Bosser, 1989. Angraecum pingue Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum pinifolium Bosser, 1970. Angraecum platycornu Hermans, 2002. Angraecum podochiloides Schltr., B1906. Angraecum popowii Braem, 1991. Angraecum potamophilum Schltr., 1913. Angraecum praestans Schltr., 1913. Angraecum protensum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum pseudodidieri H.Perrier, 1937. Angraecum pseudofilicornu H.Perrier, 1937. Angraecum pseudopetiolatum Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum pterophyllum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum pumilio Schltr., 1916. Angraecum pungens Schltr., 1906. Angraecum pusillum Lindl., 1836. Angraecum pyriforme Summerh., B1936. Angraecum ramosum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum ramulicolum H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum reygaertii De Wild., 1916. Angraecum rhizanthium H.Perrier, 1951. Angraecum rhizomaniacum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum rhynchoglossum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum rigidifolium H.Perrier, 1938. Angraecum rostratum Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., 1885. Angraecum rubellum Bosser, Adansonia,1988. Angraecum rutenbergianum Kraenzl., 1882. Angraecum sacciferum Lindl., 1836. Angraecum sacculatum Schltr., Repert. 1925. Angraecum salazianum (Cordem.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum sambiranoense Schltr., 1925. Angraecum sanfordii P.J.Cribb & B.J.Pollard, 2002. Angraecum scalariforme H.Perrier, 1955. Angraecum scottianum Rchb.f., Gard. Chron.,1878. Angraecum sedifolium Schltr., Repert. 1925. Angraecum serpens (H.Perrier) Bosser, 1970. Angraecum sesquipedale Thouars, 1822. Angraecum sesquipedale var. angustifolium Bosser & Morat, 1972. Angraecum sesquipedale var. sesquipedale. Angraecum sesquisectangulum Kraenzl., 1923. Angraecum setipes Schltr., 1925. Angraecum sinuatiflorum H.Perrier, 1951. Angraecum sororium Schltr., 1925. Angraecum spectabile Summerh., 1958. Angraecum spicatum (Cordem.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum stella-africae P.J.Cribb in I.F.la Croix & al., 1983. Angraecum sterrophyllum Schltr., 1916. Angraecum stolzii Schltr., 1915. Angraecum striatum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum subulatum Lindl., 1836. Angraecum tamarindicolum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum tenellum (Ridl.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum tenuifolium Frapp. ex Cordem., 1895. Angraecum tenuipes Summerh., 1951 publ. 1952. Angraecum tenuispica Schltr., 1918. Angraecum teres Summerh., 1958. Angraecum teretifolium Ridl.,1885. Angraecum triangulifolium Senghas, 1964. Angraecum trichoplectron (Rchb.f.) Schltr.,1915. Angraecum triquetrum Thouars, 1822. Angraecum umbrosum P.J.Cribb, 1985. Angraecum undulatum (Cordem.) Schltr., 1915. Angraecum urschianum Toill.-Gen. & Bosser, 1961. Angraecum verecundum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum vesiculatum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum vesiculiferum Schltr., 1925. Angraecum viguieri Schltr., 1922. Angraecum viride Kraenzl., 1914. Angraecum viridiflorum Cordem., 1899. Angraecum xylopus Rchb.f., 1885. Angraecum yuccifolium Bojer in ?. Angraecum zaratananae Schltr., 1925. Angraecum zeylanicum Lindl., 1859.