Orchidaceae
Aerangis

Aerangis splendida J.Stewart & la Croix

First published in Kew Bull. 42: 215 (1987)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Malawi to Zambia. It is an epiphytic subshrub and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Epiphytic herb; stem woody, up to 20 cm long, but usually shorter; roots long, 5–6 mm in diameter.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 3–8, distichous, pendent, 12–30 × 5–8 cm, oblanceolate or obovate, narrowly sheathing at the base, unequally 2-lobed at the apex; the lobes rounded, the longer up to 25 mm long; lamina leathery, dark glossy green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences pendent, to 30 cm long, rather laxly 2–7-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers white, set 3–5 cm apart, in 2 rows.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary 6–8 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals lanceolate-ovate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal erect, 35–50 × 8–12 mm; lateral sepals similar but slightly narrower and somewhat oblique, at first spreading but soon reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals similar but slightly shorter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip deflexed, 40–45 mm long, 10–14 mm wide in the middle, obovate, then narrowing abruptly into a long, slender tip; spur 20–25 cm long, slender but slightly inflated towards the apex, with a single, loose coil in the middle.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column stout, 6–8 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 15 × 0.8 cm, cylindrical.
[FZ]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • 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