Epiphytic monopodial herbs, with short to elongate leafy stems, without pseudobulbs
Leaves
distichous, ± coriaceous, articulated to persistent sheath, often unequally 2-lobed
Inflorescences
lateral, racemes, rarely flowers solitary; flowers often white or greenish white
Sepals
and petals free, subsimilar
Lip
concave, entire or 3-lobed, spurred, basally enveloping gynostemium
Gynostemium
short and broad, lacking column-foot; anther operculate, incumbent; pollinia 2
Capsule
oblong or fusiform
x = 19 (25) (aneuploids, polyploidy)
Nomenclature:
Angraecum
Bory
Bory: 359 (1804)
Rolfe: 68 (1912)
Phillips: 243 (1951)
Schelpe: 38 (1966)
Harrison: 85 (1972)
Stewart et al.: 256 (1982)
Linder & Kurzweil: 421 (1999)
Distribution & Notes:
Global
: Species ± 200, Africa, Madagascar and Mascarene Islands, 1 in Sri Lanka
Southern Africa
: Species 6 widespread in subtropical parts, including Swaziland, extending to Eastern Cape
References:
BORY, DE SAINT-VINCENT, J.B.G.M. 1804.
Voyage dans le quatre principales îles des mers d'Afrique
, Vol. 1. F. Buisson, Paris
HARRISON, E.R. 1972.
Epiphytic orchids of southern Africa
. Natal Branch of the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa
LINDER, H.P. & KURZWEIL, H. 1999.
Orchids of southern Africa
. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam
PHILLIPS, E.P. 1951. The genera of South African flowering plants.
Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa
No. 25
ROLFE, R.A. 1912. Order CXXXI.
Orchideae
.
Flora capensis
5,3
SCHELPE, E.A. 1966.
An introduction to the South African Orchids
. Purnell & Sons, Cape Town, Johannesburg
STEWART, J., LINDER, H.P., SCHELPE, E.A. & HALL, A.V. 1982.
Wild orchids of southern Africa
. Macmillan, Johannesburg
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