Aeranthes

Finding

SITF has determined this plant to be Aeranthes grandiflora, not Aeranthes virginalis (Oct 2024). Johan Hermans, a noted botanist in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, an expert in this genus, has identified this plant as A. grandiflora. He said that A. virginalis cannot be mistaken for any other species because of the crossed sepals (crossing in front of the lip making it unmistakable) and more, importantly, the formation of plantlets that occur along the inflorescence; the only species in the genus that forms such plantlets. This plantlet formation starts very early in the development of the inflorescence, usually before the first bud opens. This plant does not exhibit either of these two key characteristics. Kew POWO lists two entries for A. grandiflora. A. grandiflora (Lindl. 1833) is synonymous with A. arachnites and is not this flower. A. grandiflora (Lindl. 1844) is accepted by Kew and matches this flower.

Number Of Leaves Per Growth Or Cane: 5-6

Leaf Length: 22.0

Leaf Width: 2.5

Leaf Margin: entire

Leaf Shape: narrowly elliptical

Pseudobulb Root Tip: green

Inflorescence Overall Length: 22.0

Inflorescence Arrangement: single flowered, blooms sequentially

Ovary Length: 2.5

Ovary Width: 0.2

Ovary Shape: terete

Ovary Color: green

Flower Natural Spread Length: 7.2

Flower Natural Spread Width: 5.7

Dorsal Sepal Length: 4.3

Dorsal Sepal Width: 1.2

Lateral Sepals Length: 3.7

Lateral Sepals Width: 1.6

Petals Width: 1.4

Judging Center: Great Plains Judging Center

Award Number: 20243608

Award Date: September 21, 2024

Awarded As: CBR

One cupped flower and one bud on one sequentially blooming 22.0-cm thin, arching inflorescence; plant of three sympodial growths with no obvious rhizomes, fans of five to six smooth, green, conduplicate, narrowly elliptical leaves with distinct midline crease and unevenly notched tips, largest leaf is 2.5 cm wide by 22 cm long, roots 0.1cm in diameter, flexuous, root tips green; dorsal sepal lanceolate, pale chartreuse lightly overlaid yellow distal one-half; lateral sepals pale chartreuse sub-triangulate basal one half, fused to column foot, transitioning abruptly to caudae lightly overlaid yellow; petals pale chartreuse, sub-quadratic basal one-half, margins finely denticulate, abruptly transitioning to falcate caudae lightly overlaid yellow; lip pale chartreuse sub-rectangular basal two-thirds, distal one-third triangular, reflexed, lightly overlaid yellow, spatulate spur 2.5 cm long, pale chartreuse; column chartreuse 0.1 cm in diameter by 0.2cm long, anther cap chartreuse; ovary green, smooth 0.2 cm in diameter by 2.5 cm long; substance firm, texture waxy, species native to Comoros Islands; award concurrent with 20243609 HCC 77 points; SITF ID__________________________
Plant came from Afri Orchids

See more Aeranthes SITF listings
Learn more about the Aeranthes genus