Orchid of the day: Angraecum sesquipedale

Angraecum sesquipedale

I posted about our Angraecum sesquipedale last year (January 27th 2014) and I do recommend for those interested to refer to my earlier post for some background information. Briefly though, this orchid originates from Madagascar and needs a special moth (Xanthopan morganii) to pollinate it as you can see the long extended spur on each of the two flowers. 

A) December 14th 2014, we noticed a prominent flower stem growing out of the leaves.

Initially we expected two flower stems to grow out of the leaves but only one flower stem became fully developed. Angraecum sesquipedale orchids are monopodial orchids, meaning they grow upwards from a single point and they tend to produce a lot of aerial roots.

B) A different angle of the the flower stem with two developing flower buds.

C) By January 14th 2015, the spurs from the two flowers are clearly protruding out. 

D) Up close of the developing flowers. Interesting looking, aren't they?

E) The spurs began to straightened out by January 31st.

F) They remind me of swans at this point.

G) February 18th, 2015. Both flowers are completely open. The one to the right opened at least one week earlier and due to the severe cold weather we have been having and less humidity in the house, you can see that the two petal tips are browning a little.

H) The width of the flower from right to left is ~ 6.5 inches while the spurs are ~ 1 feet in length.

This amazing looking orchid is a wonder to me. I love the fact that they still exist in the wild andthat they need a highly specialize means of pollinating, i.e. that one particular moth species. The environment is precious and we share the world with so many amazing living beings. Okay, getting off my soapbox now. Hope you had a good read. 

Orchid of the day: Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta

Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta

Arne wrote the paragraph below as an introduction to this fascinating orchid. When it arrived, it really didn't look like much but once the pendulous inflorescence appeared, this miniature orchid from Africa proved to be a jewel among our collection of orchids.

In the same way as humans are the most developed and therefore also the youngest of all mammals, orchids are the most specialized and youngest additions to the world of plants.  The most well-known specialized orchid species is Angraecum sequipedale in Madagascar that has a spur that is about a foot in length that only one particular moth, Xanthopan morganii praedicta, can pollinate.  We have that one and it will be presented in this blog in a week or so (it was featured almost exactly one year ago in this blog).  Another African orchid related to Angraecum that I always wanted to grow is Aerangis luteo-alba var rhodosticta.  It is almost the only orchid in the tropical part of Africa that is not purely white.  It has yellowish white flowers (luteo-alba) with a bright orange-red column (rhodosticta).  It is supposedly notoriously difficult to culture (I still don’t know why) so I hesitated to get one.  Nevertheless, here it is in all its beauty after 7 months in my care. 

-by Arne.

A) October 26th, 2014. A healthy looking orchid which Arne transferred from the plastic pot it came in to the current cork bark.

B) By Dec 14th, four distinct flower stems were in the advance stages of development.

C) A clearer shot of the four flower stems.

D) About one month later, January 18th, about 51 flower buds were developing at this time.

E) The four flower stems at a different angle.

F)  Upon closer examination, you can see the spurs developing on each individual flower.

G) January 25th, I decided to have Arne hold the Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta up to give a sense of proportion.

H) The flowers are produced in two rows on a single plane.

I) By January 31st, almost all flowers are opened. But as it turns out, there are 56 flowers this time around.

J) Up close; the flowers open very flat. The color of our orchids are more towards pale yellow with the bright orange or vermillion hue in the center.

I hope you found this post entertaining. The transformation of this orchid from the moment it arrived to what it is today is quite amazing. Until next time then, have a good week.