Angraecum sesquipedale Thouars (1822.)

The Angraecum generic name is derived from the Malesian Anggrek, which in the Indo-Malesian Archipelago is used as a general term for epiphytes featuring thick roots.

The Latin sesquipedalis means "one-and-half-foot long", referring to the prominent, up to 12-15 inches long, pendent spur of the flowers.

The English vernacular name, Comet Orchid, also alludes to the star-shaped flowers and the long spur; the French common name, l'Étoile de Madagascar means the "Star of Madagascar" in English.

This orchid became famous when Charles Darwin predicted that its natural pollinator must be a moth featuring a tongue which is matching the lenghth of these extraordinary spurs.

Darwin was right - altough it took eleven years until the nocturnal hawk-moth, the pollinator of Angraecum sesquipedale was indeed discovered.
It is named Xanthopan morganii praedicta, in honor of Darwin's prediction.

Angraecum sesquipedale is epiphytic on large trees or grows terrestrially in rocky grasslands of mountain slopes.

Large epiphyte from Madagascar.

Its long stems are pendent, therefore, best cultivated in a hanging basket.

The genus Kefersteinia commemorates Herr Keferstein of Kollwitz, German orchid enthusiast supplying many orchids to Reichenbach f. for having them described for science.

"Gemma" in Greek means miniature relief artwork carved from gemstones.

There are about 20 species in this genus occurring from Costa Rica and Nicaragua to Brazil and Peru.

They need humid, well shaded locations and minimum
12 - 15 ºC (53 - 59 ºF) temperature.

The Chondrorhyncha genus includes about six species occurring in Central and South America.
They are related to Cochleanthes, Huntleya and Kefersteinia.

The generic name given by Lindley in 1846 refers to the cartilageous substance of the beak-like rostellum.

These delicate orchids need shade, high humidity levels and moisture (not stagnant, stale sludge!) must always be present at their roots.

Angraecum magdalenae is native to the mountains of Madagascar, up to altitudes of 2.000 m

Grows most frequently on quarzite (volcanic rock) bulders only lightly shaded or exposed to full sun.

There are about 50 species in the Jumellea genus commemorating Dr Henri Jumelle, French botanist.

Members of this genus are closely related to Angraecum species; with 2 exceptions they are native to Madagascar, the Comores and Mascarene Islands.

Prefer shady and highly humid environments.

Most of the specis have no definite flowering periods - flowers may appear anytime.

Angraecum distichum Lindley (1836.)

Angraecum distichum is a widely distributed species in Tropical Africa, occurring from Guinea and Sierra Leone to Uganda and Angola.

This charming miniature epiphytic orchid has neatly arching, pendent branches, therefore, the best is to cultivate mounted.