Anguloa

Anguloa Ruiz & Pav., 1794 is a classification of orchid in tribe Maxillarieae, subtribe Lycastinae.

Distribution

This genus is found on the forest floor at elevations of 600 to 2200 meters from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador to Peru.

Description

They are rather large terrestrial and sometimes epiphytic orchids with fleshy pseudobulbs longer than 20 cm. The long, lanceolate and plicate leaves of a full-grown Anguloa can be more than 1 m long. Two to four leaves grow from the base of each pseudobulb. The leaves are deciduous, and are shed at the start of each new growth.

The flowers of these orchids have a waxy appearance and come in two colors : greenish white and yellow to red. A single flower per inflorescence arises from the base of each new pseudobulb. The white Anguloas have six inflorescences per pseudobulb, the other can produce up to twelve inflorescences. The sepals have a bulbous shape, resembling a tulip. The lip is three-lobed. The column has four pollinia.

The flowers usually have a strong scent of cinnamon.

Culture

Plants are usually grown in medium light with cool to warm temperatures. Use a mix of 75% fine fir bark with 25% perlite or use full sphagnum moss. Water regularly. Watering should be done when potting mix just begins to dry. Plants prefer high humidity. They need a two to three week dry rest in the late winter. Resume water and fertilizer when new growth and the new inflorescence.

Naming

Commonly known as the "Tulip Orchid" and Cradle Orchid it is a close relative of the Lycastes. The genus was named after Francisco de Angulo, a Peruvian orchid lover.

Species

• Anguloa brevilabris (Colombia).
• Anguloa cliftonii (Colombia)
  • Anguloa cliftonii var alba (Colombia)
  • Anguloa cliftonii var concolor (Colombia)
• Anguloa clowesii : Tulip Orchid, Cradle Orchid (Colombia to NW. Venezuela)
  • Anguloa clowesii var flava (Colombia)
• Anguloa dubia (Colombia)
• Anguloa eburnea (Colombia and Ecuador)
• Anguloa hohenlohii (Colombia to NW. Venezuela).
  • Anguloa hohenlohii var. hohenlohii (Colombia to NW. Venezuela)
  • Anguloa hohenlohii var. macroglossa (?)(Colombia) (probably does not exist)
• Anguloa purpurea (Venezuela) (a synonym for A. hohenlohii)
• Anguloa sagittata (Colombia) (a synonym for A. brevilabris)
• Anguloa tognettiae (Colombia and Venezuela).
• Anguloa uniflora (Peru) – type species
• Anguloa virginalis (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia).
  • Anguloa virginalis var turneri (Colombia)

Natural hybrids

• Anguloa x rolfei (Colombia) (unplaced name)
• Anguloa x ruckeri (A. clowesii × A. hohenlohii)(Venezuela)
• Anguloa x speciosa (Venezuela and probably Colombia)
• Anguloa x acostae (Colombia)

References

• Dr Henry F. Oakeley (1999). Anguloa : The Species, the hybrids and a checklist of Angulocastes. Orchid Digest 63 (4).
• Dr Henry F. Oakeley (1999). A Revision of the Genus Anguloa. All Japan Orchid Society Orchids 38: 17-38. ; (also in Japanese)
• Dr Henry F. Oakeley (1999). A Revision of the Genus Anguloa. Orquideologia 21 (2): 159-213. (also in Spanish)
• Anguloa Orchids