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Aerangis

Genus of orchids

Summary

Genus of orchids

Around 57, see List of Aerangis species.

  • × Barangis Anon.
  • Barombia Schltr.
  • Microterangis Senghas
  • Radinocion Ridl.
  • Rhaphidorhynchus Finet

Aerangis, abbreviated as Aergs in horticultural trade, is a genus of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). The name of this genus has been derived from the Greek words 'aer' (air) and 'angos' (urn), referring to the form of the lip. It is the type genus of the subtribe Aerangidinae, which has recently been subsumed in the subtribe Angraecinae. Approximately 50 species in this genus are known mostly from tropical Africa, but also from the Comoro Islands, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

Description

Species are usually epiphytic, sometimes lithophytic small orchids, resembling Vandas in appearance. Their large, waxy, star-shaped flowers are generally white, cream-colored or yellow. They show a long, nectar-filled spur, often longer than the flower itself. There is a single stem with many flowers on a long raceme. The lip is flat and resembles the petals and sepals. They give off an agreeable smell during the night. There are six to ten parallel-veined, fleshy, evergreen leaves.

Taxonomy

It was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1865 with Aerangis flabellifolia as the type species.

Cultivation

These orchids are not often found in collections, even though they are rather easy to grow. Around 15 species are commonly available. Also ''Aerangis''' descendants from intergeneric hybridization have been registered:

  • ×Aerangaeris (Aerangis × Rangaeris)
  • ×Amesangis (Aerangis × Amesiella)
  • ×Angrangis (Aerangis × Angraecum)
  • ×Diaphanangis (Aerangis × Diaphananthe)
  • ×Euryangis (Aerangis × Eurychone)
  • ×Summerangis (Aerangis × Summerhayesia)
  • ×Thesaera (Aerangis × Aeranthes)

References

  • (1865) Flora 48: 190.
  • (Eds) (2014) Genera Orchidacearum Volume 6: Epidendroideae (Part 3); page 344 ff., Oxford: Oxford University Press.

References

  1. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56300#page/192/mode/1up Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach. 1865. Flora; oder, (allgemeine) botanische Zeitung. Regensburg, Jena 48: 190]
  2. [http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=3780 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]
  3. Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-a). ''Aerangis'' Rchb. f. Tropicos. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40033417
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

aerangis vandeae-genera epiphytic-orchids
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