Cryptopus

Vandeae subtribe Angraecinae

Vine-like monopodial epiphytes. Stems elongate, rooting along its length. Leaves alternate, distichous, oblong-elliptic, sessile, obliquely bilobed at the apex, leathery. Inflorescences extra-axillary long-pedunculate racemes, the floral bracts minute. Flowers white. Sepals and petals free, the petals lobulate. Lip three-lobed or five-lobed, with the lobes mimicking the petals, with a long slender spur. Column very short, without wings or foot; pollinia 2, on a common linear stipe and linear-lanceolate viscidium.

From the Greek kryptos, meaning hidden, and pous, meaning foot, referring to Lindley’s belief that the stipes and visidium of the pollinarium were concealed in a pouch.

A genus of three species from Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands.

Bosser, J. 1969. Contribution a l’étude des Orchidaceae de Madagascar, XI. Sur les affinites des genres Cryptopus Lindl. et Neobathieae Schltr. Adansonia, sér. 2, 9(4):539-547.