Orchidaceae

Aerangis Rchb.f.

First published in Flora 48: 190 (1865)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & S. Africa to Sri Lanka.

Descriptions

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:2. 1998

Morphology General Habit
Epiphytic herbs with short or long woody stems bearing numerous long aerial roots towards the base.
Morphology Stem
Stems usually unbranched, covered with the remains of overlapping leaf bases, with few to several leaves towards the apex.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves distichous, fleshy or coriaceous, sheathing at the base, usually oblanceolate, sometimes linear or ligulate, unequally 2-lobed at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence lateral, racemose, few- to many-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers resupinate, white, sometimes tinged with green, brown or pink.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals and petals free, spreading or reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip entire, often similar to tepals, spurred at the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column short and stout or elongated and more slender, often narrow towards the base and enlarged at the level of the stigma; androclinium straight or sloping, the anther cap sometimes beaked; rostellum entire, elongated, porrect or deflexed; pollinia 2, sessile on a single stipes; viscidium variously shaped; stigma an oval or rhomboid sticky depression.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary elongated, straight or somewhat curved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule cylindric or ellipsoid.
[FZ]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit
Epiphytic herbs with short or elongated woody stems bearing numerous elongated aerial roots in the lower part
Morphology Stem
Stems usually unbranched, covered with the remains of overlapping leaf-bases, bearing few–several leaves apically
Morphology Leaves
Leaves in 2 rows, usually thick and fleshy in the living state, sometimes leathery during the dry season, sheathing at the base, much longer than broad and usually wider in the upper half, unequally bilobed at the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence lateral, a short or elongated raceme, rarely branched, few–many-flowered
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers resupinate, white or variously tinted with green or brown
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Sepals and petals free, spreading or reflexed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip entire, often similar to the sepals and petals, spurred at the base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column short and stout or somewhat elongated and more slender, often narrowed towards the base and enlarged at the level of the stigma; androclinium straight or sloping, the anther-cap sometimes beaked; rostellum entire, elongated, deflexed or porrect; pollinia 2, sessile on a single stipes; viscidium variously shaped; stigma an oval or rhomboid sticky depression
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary elongated, straight or curved
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule cylindric or ellipsoid, often much elongated.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0