Aerangis
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Aerangis Rchb f., 1865, is a genus of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) (subfamily Vandoideae, tribe Vandeae, subtribe Aerangidinae).
The name of this genus has been derived from the Greek words 'aer' (air) and 'angos' (urn), referring to the form of the lip.
Approximately 50 species in this genus are known mostly from tropical Africa, but also from the Comoros Islands, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. These include:
- Aerangis curnowiana : Pearl of Madagascar
- Aerangis punctata : Pearl of Madagascar
- Aerangis luteoalba var. rhodosticta: Pheasant-eye Orchid
Species are usually epiphytic, sometimes lithophytic small orchids, resembling Vandas in appearance. Their large, waxy, star-shaped flowers are generally white, cream-colored or yellow. They show a long, nectar-filled spur, often longer than the flower itself. There is a single stem with many flowers on a long raceme. The lip is flat and resembles the petals and sepals. They give off an agreeable smell during the night. There are six to ten parallel-veined, fleshy, evergreen leaves.
These orchids are not often found in collections, even though they are rather easy to grow.
Species
- Aerangis alcicornis (Rwanda to Mozambique)
- Aerangis appendiculata : (SW. Tanzania to S. Trop. Africa)
- Aerangis arachnopus : (Trop. Africa)
- Aerangis articulata (Comoros, Madagascar) - epiphyte
- Aerangis biloba (W. & WC. Trop. Africa)
- Aerangis bouarensis (Central African Rep.)
- Aerangis brachycarpa (Eritrea to S. Trop. Africa) - epiphyte
- Aerangis calantha (Ivory Coast to Angola and Tanzania) - epiphyte
- Aerangis carnea (SW. Tanzania to Malawi).
- Aerangis × chirioana (Cameroon).
- Aerangis citrata (Madagascar)
- Aerangis collum-cygni (WC. Trop. Africa to Tanzania and Zambia).
- Aerangis concavipetala (NW. Madagascar)
- Aerangis confusa (Kenya to N. Tanzania).
- Aerangis coriacea (Kenya to N. Tanzania)
- Aerangis cryptodon (Comoros, Madagascar) - epiphyte
- Aerangis curnowiana (C. Madagascar)
- Aerangis decaryana (SW. Madagascar).
- Aerangis distincta (Malawi)
- Aerangis ellisii (Madagascar)
- Aerangis ellisii var. ellisii (Madagascar).
- Aerangis ellisii var. grandiflora (C. & E. Madagascar).
- Aerangis fastuosa (Madagascar) - epiphyte
- Aerangis flexuosa (São Tomé).
- Aerangis fuscata (Madagascar)
- Aerangis gracillima (Cameroon to Gabon) - epiphyte
- Aerangis gravenreuthii (Bioko, Cameroon, Tanzania (Uluguru Mts.).
- Aerangis hologlottis (SE. Kenya to NE. Tanzania (incl. Zanzibar), Mozambique, Sri Lanka).
- Aerangis hyaloides (E. Madagascar)
- Aerangis jacksonii (Uganda)
- Aerangis kirkii (Kenya to S. Africa).
- Aerangis kotschyana (Trop. Africa to KwaZulu-Natal) - epiphyte
- Aerangis luteoalba (WC. & E. Trop. Africa to Ethiopia) - epiphyte
- Aerangis luteoalba var. luteoalba (Congo to SW. Uganda) - epiphyte
- Aerangis luteoalba var. rhodosticta (WC. & E. Trop. Africa to Ethiopia) - epiphyte
- Aerangis macrocentra (Madagascar)
- Aerangis maireae (Tanzania).
- Aerangis megaphylla (Annobón, Central African Rep.)
- Aerangis modesta (Comoros, N. Madagascar).
- Aerangis montana (SW. Tanzania to Zambia).
- Aerangis mooreana (Comoros, NW. Madagascar)
- Aerangis mystacidii (SW. Tanzania to S. Africa).
- Aerangis oligantha (*SW. Tanzania to N. Malawi).
- Aerangis pallidiflora (N. & NE. Madagascar)
- Aerangis × primulina (Madagascar).
- Aerangis pulchella (NW. Madagascar).
- Aerangis punctata (C. Madagascar)
- Aerangis rostellaris (Comoros, N. Madagascar).
- Aerangis somalensis (Ethiopia)
- Aerangis spiculata (Comoros, Madagascar).
- Aerangis splendida (Malawi, Zambia).
- Aerangis stelligera (WC. Trop. Africa).
- Aerangis thomsonii (Ethiopia to E. Trop. Africa).
- Aerangis ugandensis (E. Zaire to Kenya) - epiphyte
- Aerangis verdickii (Rwanda to S. Trop. Africa)
- Aerangis verdickii var. rusituensis.(E. Zimbabwe)
- Aerangis verdickii var. verdickii (Rwanda to S. Trop. Africa)