Botanical Name
|
Ansellia gigantea var. nilotica
|
Other names
|
Leopard orchid
|
|
Orchidaceae; epiphytic orchid, sometimes terrestrial
|
Dimensions
|
A cluster of stems reaching about 60cm or more, in South Africa usually smaller; in tropical Africa apparently considerably larger clumps are common
|
Description of Stem
|
Stems green to white, emanating from pseudo bulbs and sheathed in old leaf bases, longitudinally ridged down to air roots that cling to the host tree bark
|
Description of Leaves
|
Up to 7 long, leathery and narrow leaves per pseudo bulb, wrapped round the stem at the base and tapering to a sharpish point, margins smooth, entire
|
Description of flowers
|
A few flowers per panicle, although some records report large numbers, even up to a hundred; each with five narrow segments/tepals, greenish yellow with striking scattered, purplish to brown spots; a centered modified and 3-lobed lip segment provides the distinctive orchid characteristic; panicle may be up to 85cm; flowering early spring to midsummer
|
Description of seed/fruit
|
|
Description of roots
|
Thin white roots characteristically pointing upwards
|
Variation
|
|
|
|
Propagation and Cultivation
|
Will attach itself to a suitable tree in favourable conditions in a garden
|
Tolerances
|
|
Uses
|
|
Ecological rarity
|
|
Pests and Diseases
|
|
Other
|
Attaching itself to a fork in a tree, not parasitic
|
Location
|
Forest, coastal and riverine areas
|
Distribution
|
|
Country
|
South Africa, widespread in tropical Africa, notably Nigeria, DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
|