!Diaphananthe pellucida [Lindley]Schlechter 1914 Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl

Flower Closeup Photo courtesy of Patricia Harding

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Common Name The Transparent Diaphananthe

Flower Size 1/2" [2 cm]

This hot to warm growing, medium sized, epiphytic species is from Sierra Leone to the Congo in evergreen forests, on trunks and lower branches at elevations of 600 to 1800 meters with a short stem that is leafy towards the apex and has oblanceolate, curved, unequally bilobed at the apex leaves and blooms in the fall and winter on a 8 to 20" [20 to 50 cm] long, pendant raceme that arises from below leaves or in the axils of the lower leaves with many fragrant flowers. This species does well in either mounted or in a pot in heavy shade, and high humidity, as well as hot to warm temperatures.

Synonyms Aerangis pallida (W.Watson) Garay 1972 ; Angraecum althoffi Krzl. 1889; Angraecum pallidum W.Watson 1890; *Angraecum pellucidum Lindley 1884; Angraecum thonnerianum Krzl.; Epidorchis pellucida (Lindl.) Kuntze 1891; Listrostachys althoffi (Kraenzl.) T. Durand & Schinz 1895; Listrostachys pellucida [Lindley]Rchb.f 1864; Listrostachys thonneriana Kraenzl. ex De Wild. & T. Durand 1862; Mystacidium pellucidum (Lindl.) Benth. & Hook.f. 1883

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of the Central African Republic - A Provisional Checklist Cribb & Fay 1987;Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006