Ancistrochilus rothschildianus
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| Ancistrochilus rothschildianus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ancistrochilus rothschildianus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Ancistrochilus |
| Species: | A. rothschildianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ancistrochilus rothschildianus J.O'Brien | |
Ancistrochilus rothschildianus is a small species of semi-terrestrial, orchid endemic to the African tropics.[1][2][3] A. rothschildianus is cultivated for its "pretty pink flowers."[4] This species and Ancistrochilus thomsonianus are the only recognized species in genus Ancistrochilus.[1]
Ancistrochilus rothschildianus is a sympodial epiphytic plant with wide, conical or pyriform pseudobulbs that each carry two to three broad, acute, lanceolate leaves.[1] The shape of the pseudobulbs has been described as similar to that of Hershey's Kisses.[4]
A deciduous species from a region with a very pronounced dry season, A. rothschildianus goes into a state of abscission and loses leaves before it comes into flower.[1][2][4][3] At the end or the dry season, the flowers appear from the base of the mature, leafless pseudobulb in a pubescent inflorescence. Each plant produces three to four large (8 cm across), attractive, and showy flowers are that are dusky rose pink in color with a three-lobed lip that is magenta in color and ends in an elongated, narrow, curved projection.[1][2] The flowers have a mild, spicy fragrance with a hint of a metallic odor.[1][4]
Range and habitat
Ancistrochilus rothschildianus is endemic to a relatively narrow latitudinal range across tropical Africa encompassing the West African countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone, the East African countries of Uganda and Tanzania, and the territory in between.[1][2][3]
This orchid grows on bare tree trunks and larger branches of large forest trees at altitudes of 500-1100m.[1][3]
