Angraecopsis

(pronounced: an-grey-KOP-siss)

Classification

Vandeae subtribe Aerangidinae. Summerhayes (1951) recognized three sections in Angraecopsis. Section Cardiochilos Summerhayes contains minute plants, with inflorescences having the peduncle shorter than the rachis, and flowers with the sepals unequal, the

Overview

Small monopodial epiphytes, rarely lithophytes. Stems short. Leaves alternate, distichous, unequally bilobed at the apex, sometimes twisted at the base and thus lying in one plane. Inflorescences axillary, pedunculate, few to many-flowered racemes, the peduncle wiry. Flowers small, white to yellowish-green. Sepals and petals mostly free, spreading, the base of the petals often fused to the lateral sepals. Lip usually three-lobed, rarely unlobed, callus absent, spurred, the spur sometimes inflated at the apex. Column short, the rostellum short, rarely elongate, three-lobed; pollinia 2, globose, on separate stipes, the viscidia usually separate.

Etymology

From the Greek opsis, meaning appearance, referring to the similarity to the genus Angraecum.

Distribution

A genus of about 15 species in tropical Africa, Madagascar, and the Mascarene islands.

Care and Culture Card

See basic growing conditions and care information below.


Literature

Summerhayes, V. S. 1951. A revision of the genus Angraecopsis. Bot. Mus. Leafl. 14(9):240-261.
Hero-img3