African Orchids

The orchids on this page are all native to Africa and it's surrounding islands. The best known are the genera Angraecum and Aerangis, both of which bear star-shaped white flowers. Another genus, Bulbophyllum is found in Asia and other parts of the world also, though certain species are limited to the African habitat.

	Aerangis biloba. A shade- loving epiphyte from West Africa, this species has the white star-shaped flowers typical of it's genus.		Aerangis modesta. A native of Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, this species produces blooms distinguished by the long spur hanging down from the flower column. It grows in warm shady locations attached to trees and is fragrant.
	Aerangis distincta. Native to Malawi in central Africa, this species is found growing attached to trees in the evergreen forests.		Angraecum distichum. Native to West African forests, the fern-shaped leaves of this orchid produce a number of small white flowers that rival larger blooms for beauty. These flowers measure 1/4 inch from tip to tip.
	Angraecum erectum. This species is native to Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya at elevations of 1300-2100 meters. The plant produces straight vertical growth stems upward on the bark of the host tree. The small flowers arise at nodes along the stem.		Polystachya pubescens. An epiphyte or lithophyte native to South Africa and Swaziland.
	Bulbophyllum falcatum.The unique flowering pattern of this member of the Bulbophyllum genus makes it immediately recognizable. This is a warm-growing plant found in the lowlands of West Africa up to altitudes of 1800 meters.		Bulbophyllum falcatum. The tiny 1/4-inch flowers bloom in rows on either side of a paddle- shaped stem, as is evident in this close-up.