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Eichler's Angraecum Orchid
Angraecum eichlerianum
51.4813, -0.286739
Field Notes
Description:
An epiphytic Angraecum whose long stems grow up tree trunks and along branches, reaching up to 5m in length. Branched with long 1cm thick rounded stems that have a flattened narrow margin on each side and bear numerous aerial roots. The unequally bilobed oblong leaves are alternate and leathery. The flowers have narrow pale green sepals and petals, forming a star above a white labellum with a green flushed throat. The labellum is three lobed; the central lobe shaped like a small thorn, pointing downwards and the outer lobes broadly rounded and curving forward to give the labellum a bib-like appearance.
Habitat:
Found only in undisturbed forests of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, D.R. of Congo, Angola and Mozambique, from sea level up to 1800m,
Notes:
Like most African Angraecoid orchids, the white and green flowers of this species reflect the moon light and combined with the sweet citrus scent, help to attract their moth pollinators.
Cultivated specimen in the Orchidaceae collection of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. I'll be more than thrilled to see a wild specimen posted on here but until such time, I thought it was better to share this.
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