Angraecum urschianum

Names and Taxonomy

The accepted name for this species is Angraecum urschianum Toill.-Gen. & Bosser, first published in Adansonia n.s., 1:101 (1961)【2】. Kew’s Plants of the World Online lists the name as accepted and records its native range as east‑northeastern Madagascar【1】. A later homotypic synonym is Perrierangraecum urschianum (Toill.-Gen. & Bosser) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, published in 2013【1】. No vernacular names are documented in the available sources.

How to Identify This Species

Growth habit. A very small epiphytic subshrub, typically 2–3 cm tall, with a densely leafed stem only 3–3.5 mm thick【5】. Roots are smooth, green, 1–1.5 mm in diameter.

Leaves. Leaves are thick, fleshy, 8–23 mm long and 5–8 mm wide, folded along the midrib, with denticulate margins and a surface covered by sunken dots. The leaf apex is unequally obtusely bilobed.

Inflorescence. Axillary, single‑flowered, peduncle 6–9 mm long, often half to fully concealed by 3–4 sheaths.

Flower. Flowers are medium‑sized (≈2.5 cm across). Sepals are pale green or greenish‑yellow, 10–11 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals are similar but slightly oblique. Petals are 9–9.5 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide, five‑veined. The lip is white, 10–13 mm long by 7.5–9 mm wide, heavily veined (veins not visible on fresh flowers). A notable feature is the exceptionally long filiform spur, 11–12 cm in length【5】. The flower is not reported as fragrant.

Comparison. The combination of a very short stem, bilobed denticulate leaves, and an 11 cm spur distinguishes it from other miniature Angraecum such as A. dollii (shorter spur) and A. amplexicaule (larger plant).

Native Range and Habitat

The species is endemic to Madagascar, specifically the east‑central (ENE) region. It inhabits moss‑rich rainforests at moderate elevations of roughly 1000–1200 m above sea level【6】【5】. It grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks and branches, favouring humid, wet tropical conditions.

Species‑Specific Care

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Overall, the most critical requirements are high humidity, good air circulation, and a cool night temperature that reflects its montane forest origin. Because the plant is minute, it benefits from a shallow mounting surface that allows rapid drying of the roots between waterings.

Flowering and Pollination

In its native habitat the plant flowers in September, which corresponds to the early spring season in the southern hemisphere【5】. The flower lasts long enough for observation, but specific longevity is not documented. The long spur (11–12 cm) suggests adaptation to a sphinx moth pollinator with a proboscis of comparable length, a pattern common in many Angraecum species, though direct pollinator observations for A. urschianum are not recorded.

Evidence and Limitations

The profile draws on taxonomic data from Kew and IPNI, a detailed morphological description from African Orchids, and cultivation notes from an experienced grower on Orchid Board. Key gaps include the absence of formal studies on pollinators, precise flowering duration, and fertilisation regimes. Future field research and ex‑situ trials would help refine these aspects.