Monday, February 11, 2013

Angraecum cf. breve

My Angraecum breve is in bloom again, this time with two flowers.  It had one flower last year and I pollinated that and harvested the pod just a few weeks ago, but I had worried that holding a seed pod for a year would weaken the plant and that it wouldn't bloom this year.  To my surprise it started two spikes.

The plant is a micro-miniature, a little fan of patterned leaves 4 cm (1.5 in.) across.  The star-shaped flower is 3 cm (1 in. plus) in size and the spur is over 10 cm long (approx. 4.5 in.) when the flower opens and it is fully uncurled.  The sepals are greenish when first open but soon fade to a lovely crystalline white.

Once again I took photos at different stages of the flowers' development.  The flower's coiled spur I find particularly charming when it is first tightly curled beneath the flower and then also as it begins to uncurl.  Very early on in its development the nectar is already visible in the spur, which is nearly transparent.

Developing Buds


Newly Opened Flowers


Mature Flowers



I received the following note from a friend: "I should tell you that your plant and the others that have come out of Madagascar recently under the name of Angraecum breve don't match the description for the species, so until the taxonomists can work out what this different, wonderful species is, it might be good to include 'cf.' in the name e.g. Angraecum cf. breve or just Angraecum sp. 'breve'."
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12 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 10:49 AM

    Wow, I never saw such a wonderful plant to flower proportion in angraecoids! even better than A. punctata! Have you confirmation that the pod contained viable seeds?

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    1. RonFebruary 11, 2013 at 12:03 PM

      It is an amazing little thing, isn't it? I have not yet heard whether the seed was viable. The pod was only sent off a couple of weeks ago. Have meant to ask, too, Laurent, for a link to your blog if you have one. I can't seem to find anything.

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  2. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 2:14 PM

    That is a stunningly beautiful plant. I bet it is hard to keep (at least compared to my "living room heroes"). You have quite the selection of wonderful plants. I also like the photographing a lot.
    I wish I had the space and resources to do something like this... not to mention the intuition with the plants :)

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    1. RonFebruary 11, 2013 at 4:10 PM

      Thanks for the nice compliments, Martin. I've been growing them for about 35 years, so I guess it's more practice than intuition. Beeen doing photography even longer.

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  3. UnknownFebruary 12, 2013 at 12:13 PM

    Que lindo, tenho que ficar babando no seu até que um dia o meu (didieri) resolva florir.
    abraços

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    1. RonFebruary 12, 2013 at 1:13 PM

      Thanks for looking, friend. I've grown and flowered A. dideri. I grow it cool and quite high light. I probably won't keep it, though. Even though it's one of the small Angraecums, it's still huge in comparison to this one. Hope yours does decide to bloom.

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  4. Sergio Oyama JuniorFebruary 21, 2013 at 6:43 PM

    Hi, Ron! I'm completely mesmerized by the state of the art of your orchid growing and photography. Congratulations! I too love to take pictures of my orchids, but I'm still beginning. It's a pleasure to follow the development of this miniature orchid blooming. All the best!

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    1. RonFebruary 21, 2013 at 6:52 PM

      Hi Sergio. Nice to meet you and hear from you. Thanks very much for taking a look at my blog and for commenting. It's much appreciated.

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  5. Chad LeesJuly 17, 2013 at 10:43 AM

    This is just a phenomenal Angreacum. I think I like it even more than urschianum, and I did not think that was possible. I have inquired with Botanica LTD and they said that their seeds were viable and in the lab. I'm uncertain if yours is a separate venture, but it will very interesting to see the results.

    Do you know if anyone has attempted to establish the correct ID for this? I asked Botanica and they are at a standstill. If you have not had any luck, I was wondering, if by chance, you had pics of the dissected flower.

    Thanks for the pics. Excellent as always.

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    1. RonJuly 17, 2013 at 11:32 AM

      My pod was sent to someone else and apparently the seeds are viable and starting to show some green. As to the ID I have not been able to get any further information, nor do I have pictures of a dissected flower.

      On another note, I've tried to find whether you have a blog but have not found anything. If you do, could you give me the address. I'd very much like to see what you are doing.

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  6. Chad LeesJuly 17, 2013 at 1:54 PM

    I do not have a blog at this point. I do post some stuff on Orchidboard and Slippertalk. My name on Slippertalk is Chicago Chad. I would be happy to correspond with you via email if you would like to see what I grow, how I am growing it and some successes and failures. I am always interested in sharing information on orchids; especially miniatures.

    If you do check Slippertalk, please check my Lepanthes telipogoniflora in the non-slipper orchid photos. I would appreciate your honest opinion on it. Thanks for the responses and the mutual interest.

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    1. RonJuly 17, 2013 at 2:20 PM

      I'll check out Slippertalk and definitely want to see your L. telipogoniflora. I do not do well with Lepanthes. Just can't seem to get the hang of them and the only one I have that's really flourishing is L. ingridiana. We are on vacation at the moment, however, and will not be home until the weekend. Internet access is rather limited and sporadic in the meantime.

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