Aerangis ellisii (B.S. Williams) Schltr. 1914

Aerangis ellisii var. grandiflora J.Stewart 1986

Photos courtesy of Olaf Pronk and Laurette E.U.R.L. orchids of Madagascar

Common Name Ellis' Aerangis [English Minister and Orchid Collecter in East Africa 1800's]

Flower Size 2.5" [6.25 cm]

Found in central and eastern Madagascar at elevations of 1100 to 1400 meters as a small to medium sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with roots that can arise from all along an elongate, branching stem carrying fleshy and slightly glossy, dull green leaves and blooms in the spring on an axillary, 13 to 24 flowered, to 24" [60 cm] long, racemose inflorescence with very fragrant [nutmeg] flowers. It has been suggested that the variety grandiflora is just what happens when a plant is well cultivated and so the flowers are larger than in nature.

Synonyms Aerangis alata H. Perrier 1938; Aerangis platyphylla Schltr. 1925; Angorchis ellisii (B.S. Williams) Kuntze 1891; Angraecum buyssonii God.-Leb. 1891; Angraecum dubuyssonii God.-Leb. 1887; *Angraecum ellisii B.S. Williams 1871

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81 as A platyphylla; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81 as A alata; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81 as in error A cryptodon; AOS Bulletin Vol 32 No 10 1963 photo; Encylopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; AOS Bulletin Vol 55 No 8 1986 photo; An Introduction to the Cultivated Angraecoid Orchids of Madagascar Hillerman & Holst 1986; The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchds Pridgeon 1992; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 No 3 1996 photo; Flora's Orchids Nash and La Croix 2005; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; AOS Bulletin Vol 77 No 8 2008

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