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Aerangis fastuosa
Aerangis fastuosa, commonly known as the 'magnificent Aerangis', is a species of epiphytic orchid endemic to Madagascar. It is widespread across Madagascar, stretching from the eastern coastal forests across to the south and along the central plateau. Aerangis fastuosa belongs to the family Orchidaceae, subtribe Aerangidinae.
It was formally named by Rudolf Schlechter in 1914, but was first described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1881, as Angraecum fastuosum. Henri Pierre de la Bâthie once attempted to have Aerangis fastuosum split into several varieties, but these were not accepted. Instead, Aerangis fastuosa is thought to have a highly variable morphology, and is known for its large, white, long-lasting, star-shaped, fragrant flowers. It has a very long rostellum, which is distinctive of its genus Aerangis.
Aerangis fastuosa is a well-known, highly sought after Madagascan white-flowered orchid, and are available for sale. It grows well in pots or can be mounted. If mounted it is necessary to spray with water daily, otherwise they will often decline quickly. Warm intermediate conditions are preferred (15.5 – 18 °C), and they are suitable for growing on windowsills.
The plant is a slow growing, epiphyte of twigs and small branches. It can be found living in coastal forests and humid evergreen forests. They have also been reported living in sclerophyllous forests (where the vegetation is adapted to surviving hot, dry seasons), which seems unusual due to their need for a high humidity. The plant can tolerate low light levels but horticulturists have noted that they can also tolerate and seem to benefit from higher light levels. The plant does not generally tolerate cold climates and prefers warm intermediate conditions.
Aerangis articulata · Aerangis biloba · Aerangis citrata · Aerangis ellisii · Aerangis flexuosa · Aerangis gracillima · Aerangis jacksonii · Aerangis luteoalba · Aerangis modesta · Aerangis ugandensis · Moustache Orchids
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Aerangis fastuosa by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
