Internet Angraecum I.D

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello all,

I do not actually own this plant but found this photo online and just adore it and would love to know what angraecum it is a picture of.

The caption on Flickr says it is Ang. liliodorum but other images of that species look unlike this photo. It looks sort of like Ang. Stella-Africae though not exactly as this one looks a bit different than the other stella-africae I’ve seen.

If anyone could tell me which kind of angraecum this is, I would be very happy. There is just something about the flower on this one I absolutely love. The plant itself is also very small compared to the flower.

Note: this is not my photo. I believe it belongs to someone named Anne Cedric according to Flickr.

[Ray]

You're never going to get a reliable ID from a photo like that.

[neophyte]

BrassavolaStars, the problem is that many Angraecums look so similar that it will be very hard to id. from that photo - consider the fact that the picture itself seems to be mislabeled. the flower also occludes the view of the leaves. maybe try contacting the owner of the picture/plant. I think looking through catalogues to find a plant that matches your tastes is probably still your best bet. good luck!

[BrassavolaStars]

Thanks all,

I don’t know what it is about that plant that I like so much.

You are all probably right though that it would be too difficult to find an I.D. by that photo.

The only clues I can think of is that the flowers are almost the same size as the plant, the spurs are very long looking, it is likely a species as it was purported found in the wild, and the leaves are very didieri like.

If anyone knows about a very similar looking plant I would “settle” for buying that plant. 😄

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:18 PM ----------

Here is a more zoomed in photo that shows the leaves better. I wish I could see the roots to tell if they are rough, smooth, large, or small.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by BrassavolaStars

Here is a more zoomed in photo that shows the leaves better. I wish I could see the roots to tell if they are rough, smooth, large, or small.

If you are looking at the small leaves above the flower, I'm not sure that's even the same plant... it looks like the flower spike is coming out from between the large, broad leaves below it. (If it's an in-situ photo, photo bombing by neighboring plants is very likely, the photographer can't position the subject) I agree with all the other responders, you are not going to get an ID from this photo. There are some Angraecums (relatively few) with flowers that are so distictive that there's instant recognition. But there are far too many that have similar form, distinguished from other species by many other characteristics which a single small photo isn't going to show. And if it is in-situ, any ID is likely to be approximate (looks-like, similar-to, etc) even by an expert - plants in the wild don't have tags.

There are quite a few Angraecums with flowers that are large relative to the plant. And they come from a variety of growing conditions (warm, cool, etc) So look around and do your research, you'll find a lot to love in this genus.

[signin1234]

Originally Posted by Roberta

it looks like the flower spike is coming out from between the large, broad leaves below it.

No, the flower spike is definitely coming from the narrow looking foliage directly behind it.

[Leafmite]

Be careful. Angraecums can be very addicting....

Here are places where you might be able to look through pictures to find a similar flower:

Angraecums...
Species Flask List
Botanica Ltd. - Orchid Species, Angraecoids

As for buying the orchid after you find one that is similar, some of the places that sold these are now gone (Oak Hill Gardens, Ill., Carolina Orchids) but many places sell one or two here and there. Hausermann's, Edgar Stehli of Windswept in Time, Exotic Orchids of Maui, J&L...all might have some now and then (You just keep looking as they seem to come in and out of circulation). You can sometimes find them at Orchid Shows. I became obsessed with getting Angraecum magdalenae many years ago and was lucky that Oak Hill Gardens in Ill. had them.

If you don't find an Angraecum available for sale with the flower you like, there are many close relatives that might work. Oeoniella polystachys seems widely available lately.

It seems that the Encyclopedia Angraecum is once more off-line. That was the best source for information and pictures of Angraecums.

[Roberta]

A couple more sources, both with excellent plants:
Cal Orchid, Louisiana Orchid Connection (the latter also has a presence on eBay...selection varies so check back if you don't see what you want)

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Be careful. Angraecums can be very addicting.... If you don't find an Angraecum available for sale with the flower you like, there are many close relatives that might work. Oeoniella polystachys seems widely available lately.

I think it may be a bit late to avoid an angraecum addiction. I already have:

Aerth. caudata
Aerth. grandiflora
Aerth. setipes
Angth. grandalena
Ang. Alabaster
Ang. bosseri
Ang. Crestwood
Ang. didieri
Ang. dollii
Ang. eburneum
Ang. elephantinum
Ang. Lemforde White
Ang. leonis (Madagascar)
Ang. magdalenae
Ang. sesquipedale

And I just today bought an Oeoniella polystachys from Louisiana.