Angraecum mofakoko

Names and Taxonomy

Angraecum mofakoko De Wild. was first described in 1916 in Bulletin du Jardin botanique de l’État à Bruxelles (Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 5: 189) [2]. Current consensus (Plants of the World Online) accepts this name and records its native range as the Democratic Republic of the Congo [1]. A later combination transferred the species to the genus Conchograecum as Conchograecum mofakoko (De Wild.) Szlach. & Grochocka, published in 2018 [3]. Both names refer to the same taxon; the Angraecum name remains the accepted one in major checklists.

How to Identify This Species

This orchid grows as a small epiphytic subshrub, reaching about 30 cm in height [4]. Leaves are described as smaller and narrower than those of related species, a trait noted on IOSPE photographs [5]. The inflorescence bears white to green flowers that are fragrant; blooming can occur in any month of the year, suggesting a long flowering period [4]. Flowers are relatively small with a narrow nectar spur, a characteristic of species now placed in Conchograecum and interpreted as an adaptation to small, long‑proboscis insects (e.g., tiny moths) [3]. Exact measurements of flower parts are not documented in the available sources.

Native Range and Habitat

Angraecum mofakoko is known only from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated within the West‑Central Tropical Africa region [1]. It inhabits wet tropical forests, growing as an epiphyte on tree trunks and branches. The species is reported from the “wet tropical biome” but elevation limits are not provided in the cited references.

Species‑Specific Care

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Because detailed horticultural trials are scarce, growers should treat this species as a typical tropical epiphytic orchid: provide ample airflow, maintain high humidity, and avoid letting the substrate dry out completely.

Flowering and Pollination

Flowers are fragrant and may appear in any month, indicating a non‑seasonal blooming pattern in cultivation [4]. The narrow spur morphology reported for the genus Conchograecum suggests pollination by small insects with long proboscises, such as certain moths, although direct observations for A. mofakoko are not recorded [3].

Evidence and Limitations

Key aspects such as precise flower dimensions, elevation range, and detailed horticultural parameters remain undocumented in the consulted sources. Further field studies and cultivated observations are needed to refine care recommendations and to confirm pollinator identities.