Angraecum popowii

Angraecum popowii is endemic to Madagascar.  It is from shady, highland Uapaca bojeri forests of Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, and Toamasina (Cribb and Hermans, 2009).  The elevation range is 1200-1500m.

According to the artificial key to section Aranchnangraecum by Cribb and Hermans (2009), the channelled semiterete leave is one of the key trait to distinguish this species from two related species, A. linearifolium and A. teretifolium. The later two species have terete leaves, and the leaves are not obviously channelled, so this is a trait which can be used to differentiate without flowers.  In the photo below, I tried to show this channel on the top side of the leaves.


Once they flower, A. linearifolium can be easily distinguished from the other two since it has completely different, spidery flowers.  A. popowii and A. teretifolium show similar flower shapes, but A. popowii has a larger flower; the sepal lengths are 30mm for A. popowii, 16-27mm for A. teretifolium (Stewart et al., but 12-20mm for A. teretifolium according to Cribb and Hermans, 2009) and the spur lengths are about 14cm for A. popowii and 6-10cm for A. teretifolium (Cribb and Hermans, 2009).

Here is the floral measurement from my plant; spur 13cm long, dorsal sepal and lateral seplase 30x5mm, petals 27x6mm, lip 29x14mm, ovary length 32mm, the distance between the stem and the base of the ovary 20mm.  The leaf is 170x2mm.




In the artificial key, A. popowii is considered to have "smooth" roots.  I'm showing the roots of A. popowii.  I wouldn't call this as "smooth", but I'm guessing that compared to A. pseudofilicornu with warty roots, they considered this to be relatively smooth.


This one has a strong, pleasant fragrance.  After taking photos, I put it in a relatively dark place while I was working on another plant.  After 30 min. or so, I noticed very pleasant smell in the room.  To me, it is very similar to Vanda (Neofinetia) falcata, but it is much stronger.

I got my plant via Madagascar import by Louisiana Orchid Connection in spring 2017.  The plant arrived in a very good condition, and it was relatively easy to get it going.  This is the first bloom for me, and I have been growing it at a cooler end of intermediate temperature range.  In the hottest time in the summer, the daily max/min temperature is around 29/18C (84/65F), but for the other time, it is 24/13-16C (75/55-60F).




Literature cited:

• Cribb, P. and J. Hermans, 2009. Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar (p. 351-352), Kew Publishing, UK.
• Stewart, J., J. Hermans, and B. Campbell,  2006. Angraecoid Orchids: Species from the African Region (p. 73), Timber Press, Oregon, USA.