Aerangis clavigera?

[Lars Kurth]

I have practically given up now.

I just bought Isobyl La Croix's book as it has an Aerangis key in it. That helped me to systematically eliminate what I don't have. The only plants which I couldn't eliminate from the key were immediately were alcicornis (not in cultivation and the lip does not quite have the right shape), thomsonii (plant shape does not fit), coriacea (same as thomsonii) and megaphylla. It was real annoying because some of the criteria on the key were too borderline (e.g. the spur is between 9-10cm's long and the key said "if spur > 10cm goto ..., else if spur < 9 cm goto ...", ...

However looking into these in more detail none of them really fit

[calvin_orchidL]

Something just strikes me about this plant is that the lateral sepals hide behind the petals - the only other aerangis that I can think of that does that is aerangis citrata. The leaves sort of resemble citrata although less pointed. Could it be Aerangis Mani's Star (biloba x citrata)

[Lars Kurth]

Thanks Calvin, you are right. The flowers do have a bit of a citrata quality and the leaves fit a citrata hybrid. I checked OrchidWiz and I guess the two registered citrata hybrids that could be a match are: Aerangis Perlen (citrata x somalenis) and Mani's Star (biloba x citrata). The flower has a bit of a somalensis quality.

Unfortunately there don't seem to be any published pictures of either. So I can't be sure.

[Jacob Uluwehi]

Hi Lars,

Your post has motivated me to create an account so that I can let you know that I know what your mystery Aërangis is. Congratulations on your beautiful Aërangis mooreana, the real species! These days true mooreana is very rare in cultivation. The vast majority of plants sold and labelled as mooreana are actually mystacidii.

[Lars Kurth]

Jacob,

thank you for letting me know. And welcome to the forum! Looking at IOSPE PHOTOS this does sort of make sense. Although descriptions in various books as well as on OrchidWiz are inconsistent. I am somewhat disillusioned with a lot of nurseries that sell Aerangis - a lot of mis-labbeled plants. On the other hand, it does mean that occasionaly one gets something really unusual by mistake.

Regards
Lars

[Jacob Uluwehi]

Thank you Lars for the warm welcome. I wanted to add more helpful information and links but apparently as a brand new user of the forum I am not allowed to post links in the text. Perhaps if you send me a private message I can send you the link that way?

Jay does fantastic work with his unparalleled IOSPE, but there are mistakes particularly with the photos of a number of Aërangis photos and I haven't taken the time to write him and explain what is awry with which. I should do this when I have some time to set aside for the purpose.

So often parsing out the details and differences between species is confusing without earnest study and good reference books at the ready, so after a while it can be an issue of "blind leading the blind". I don't think most sellers intentionally sell mislabelled plants but I share your frustrations. I have bought many special, expensive plants that haven't turned out to be what they were meant to be. Milder, less expensive examples are: I have a few "mooreana" myself that are in fact mystacidii, and a few "stylosa" which are in fact modesta.

[Lars Kurth]

Jacob,
private message in the mail. I have actually been trying to get this plant to set seed: not very successfully so far. I also think it won't flower this year. I had to remount and it didn't grow on that well due to a very bad summer (we had one of the wettest summers here). Although at least the plant got a new leaf, so I won't lose it.
Lars

[Tindomul]

What a great looking flower, looks like doves as they start to fly off. Also great mount!!

[RosieC]

Really really lovely!