Ancistrochilus rothschildianus

Description

Ancistrochilus rothschildianus is a small species of semi-terrestrial, orchid endemic to the African tropics.A. rothschildianus is cultivated for its "pretty pink flowers."This species and Ancistrochilus thomsonianus are the only recognized species in genus Ancistrochilus. Ancistrochilus rothschildianus is a sympodial epiphytic plant with wide, conical or pyriform pseudobulbs that each carry two to three broad, acute, lanceolate leaves.The shape of the pseudobulbs has been described as similar to that of Hershey's Kisses. 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.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. The flowers have a mild, spicy fragrance with a hint of a metallic odor. 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. This orchid grows on bare tree trunks and larger branches of large forest trees at altitudes of 500-1100m. Ancistrochilus is a genus of the orchid family (Orchidaceae), comprising only 2 species. These two species are cool to hot growing orchids, found from tropical West Africa to Tanzania and Uganda. They grow on tree trunks and large branches at elevations between 500 and 1100 m. These are sympodial epiphytic plants with wide, characteristic conical or pyriform pseudobulbs, carrying two to three broad, acute, lanceolate leaves. These leaves are shed after growth has slowed. Three to four large and attractive, fragrant flowers, 8 cm across, then appear from the base of the mature leafless pseudobulb in a pubescent inflorescence. The petals and sepals are dark-colored, rose pink. The three-lobed lip is magenta. It ends in an elongated, narrow, curved projection.