At a glance
RECORDED PROFILE DATA- Scientific name
- Angraecum implicatum Thouars
- Name status
- Accepted (Kew POWO)
- Native region
- Madagascar, Réunion
- Growth habit
- Epiphytic subshrub
- Cultivation temperature group
- Not documented
Names and Taxonomy
The accepted scientific name for this species is Angraecum implicatum Thouars. The name was first published in Hist. Orchid.: Second Tabl. Esp. (1822) and is listed as an accepted name by Kew’s Plants of the World Online [1]. The International Plant Names Index records the same authorship and publication details [2]. Several later combinations are treated as synonyms, including Aerobion implicatum (Thouars) Spreng., Macroplectrum implicatum (Thouars) Finet, and Pseudojumellea implicata (Thouars) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka [2]. No widely used common name has been documented for this taxon.
How to Identify This Species
Detailed morphological descriptions of Angraecum implicatum are not available in the supplied sources. The species is described generally as an epiphytic subshrub growing on trees in a seasonally dry tropical biome [1]. Because the original illustration by Thouars is noted as “inconclusive” and the type specimen may be missing, reliable identification from photographs alone is difficult [9]. When attempting identification, growers should compare leaf shape, stem length, and flower morphology with well‑documented Angraecum species from the same region, but should treat any tentative identification as provisional until herbarium verification is possible.
Native Range and Habitat
The species occurs naturally on the islands of Madagascar and Réunion. Both Kew [1] and the CITES Orchid Checklist list these two islands as part of its distribution [12]. In the wild it grows as an epiphyte on trees within seasonally dry tropical forests, a biome characterized by a marked dry season and moderate rainfall during the wet months. Specific elevation limits, host tree preferences, or micro‑habitat details have not been documented in the available sources.
Species‑Specific Care
| Factor | Documented guidance | Source / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Growth habit | Epiphytic; can be mounted on bark or grown in a well‑draining orchid mix. | General habit from Kew [1] |
| Light | Bright, filtered light typical for many Angraecum species. | Inference from genus; no species‑specific data. |
| Temperature | Not documented for this species. | — |
| Watering | Allow the medium to dry slightly between waterings; avoid prolonged saturation. | General orchid practice; no species‑specific record. |
| Humidity | Moderate to high humidity (60–80 %). | General for epiphytic Angraecum; not species‑specific. |
| Fertiliser | Balanced orchid fertilizer applied at half strength during active growth. | General recommendation; not documented for A. implicatum. |
| Rest period | Not documented. | — |
Because species‑specific cultural notes are lacking, growers are advised to treat Angraecum implicatum as a typical Angraecum epiphyte, monitoring the plant for signs of stress and adjusting conditions accordingly.
Flowering and Pollination
No reliable information on the timing, duration, or scent of flowers of Angraecum implicatum is present in the supplied references. The IOSPE page notes that the species “may never be rediscovered as Thouars drawing is inconclusive” and does not provide flowering data [9]. Consequently, pollinator identities and nectar spur characteristics remain undocumented.
Evidence and Limitations
The taxonomic status and native distribution of Angraecum implicatum are well supported by Kew’s Plants of the World Online and IPNI. However, detailed morphological descriptions, precise habitat parameters (elevation, host specificity), flowering phenology, pollination biology, and species‑specific cultivation guidelines are not available in the current evidence set. Future field studies or herbarium revisions are needed to fill these gaps.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
Sources & references
- Angraecum implicatum Thouars | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science – https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:616191-1
- Angraecum implicatum | International Plant Names Index – https://www.ipni.org/n/616191-1
- IOSPE PHOTOS – Angraecum implicatum – http://www.orchidspecies.com/angimplicatum.htm
- CITES Orchid Checklist – Part II: Accepted names in current use – https://cites.org/sites/default/files/common/com/nc/tax_ref/PART_II_Names_incurrentuse.pdf
