Orchids by Genera
The South African Indigenous Orchids are listed below in alphabetical order starting with the genus and then following on with the species in alphabetical order under each genus. If you are looking for a specific genus use the list on the left and click on the genus. That will give you all species with that genus. Click on the little arrow to the left of the genus name in the list and a drop down box will give you all the species belonging to that genus. Here you can click on a specific species and get the information for that species only.
This section of the website is still under development. Please check back often for updates. We are still looking for photographs of some 200 of the 500 species and if you find a species description without a photograph and would like to contribute a specific photo for that species please contact us. All photographs are properly credited.
Aerangis somalensis
- Aerangis somalensis by Oskar Kurze
Description
Fairly robust epiphyte with woody stem up to 15 mm long. Two to six leaves, spear-shaped, often with wavy edges, deeply and almost equally bilobed and grey-green in colour. One to several lateral inflorescences, up to 200mm long and carrying 4-17 flowers which are white. Spur slender, up to 120mm long. Similar to A. mystacidii but has a longer spur.
Aerangis verdickii
- Aeranges verdickii by Lourens Grobler
Description
Robust epiphyte, with a woody stem up to 40 mm long. Leaves strap-shaped and often fleshy, widest at their ends and narrowing towards their base and unequally bilobed. One or more lateral inflorescences of up to 200 mm length, carrying 4-12 flowers. Flowers are white with a cream to ivory spur. Plants in Zimbabwe have been observed to shed their leaves in winter during the dry season.
Angraecum chamaeanthus
Description
Miniature twig epiphyte, with stems less than 10 mm long. Leaves 3-6, strap shaped and somewhat fleshy. Inflorescences lateral, one to several, up to 20 mm long. 5-12 flowers white in colour and 1-2 mm across.
Angraecum conchiferum
- Angraecum conchiferum by Lourens Grobler
Description
Slender, hanging epiphyte, with stems up to 300mm long, branching and often tangled. Leaves 8-16 adjacent, narrowly strap shaped and unequally bilobed, 4-8 mm long. Inflorescences one to several, lateral, opposite leaves. Flower stalk 20-30 mm long, with a single flower. Flowers non-resupinate, petals, sepals and spur cream to yellowish green, lip white.
Angraecum cultriforme
- Angraecum cultriforme by Oskar Kurze
Description
Slender epiphyte, with stems up to 250mm long. Leaves in 2 rows, strap shaped, unequally bilobed with each lobe tapering to a point, dull green in colour. Inflorescences lateral, one to several, opposite leaves and carrying 1-4 flowers. Flowers are pale salmon in colour.
Angraecum pusillum
- Angraecum pusillum by Martin Rautenbach
Description
Dwarf epiphyte, with stems up to 25mm long. Leaves 5-10, leaf like, in a terminal cluster at the stem. Inflorescences lateral, several and emerging from below the leaves, up to 100mm long and carrying 4-15 flowers. Flowers are white to cream in colour.
Angraecum sacciferum
- Angraecum sacciferum by Martin Rautenbach
Description
Dwarf twig epiphyte, with stems up to 40mm long. Leaves 4-8, stiff, nearly erect, strap shaped, unevenly bilobed. Inflorescences, near lateral, one to several, emerging below the leaves and carrying one to five flowers, which are lime green in colour.
Angraecum stella-africae
Description
Slender epiphyte, with stems up to 15 cm. Leaves 5-6, spreading horizontally, greenish grey and linear. Inflorescences 1 or 2, arising from below the leaves, single large flower, which is greenish white. Spur up to 150mm long. Formerly A. sp. aff. rutenbergianum.
Ansellia africana
Description
Robust epiphyte, which can grow to over 1 m tall. Also known as the leopard orchid and is the official emblem of the Witwatersrand Orchid Society (WOS). Single species genus. Pseudobulbs cylindrical with nodes and up to 700 mm tall, with 4 - 10 leaves on each one at the top half of the pseudobulb. Flowers are 25 - 50 mm across. Colour varies from pure yellow to yellow marked with dark chocolate spots to almost completely brown with very little yellow. Lip varies from yellow to blotched with darker markings through to almost red in colour. The lip is three lobed with two to three callus ridges along the mid lobe. Inflorescence usually at the top of the pseudobulb, but also laterally below the leaves. No scent detectable. This is a single species genus.
Syn: Ansellia africana var. australis, Ansellia gigantea var. gigantia, Ansellia gigantea var. nilotica.
Bartholina burmanniana
- Bartholina burmanniana by Karsten Wodrich
Description
Slender terrestrial up to 230 mm tall. Has 1 leaf, that is circular and flat on the ground. Inflorescence hairy and carries a single flower. The sepals are greenish and the petals and lip are a pale greyish white to pale mauve. This is a single species genus.
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