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Laelia angereri
Laelia angereri is the largest species in the rupiculous Laelia group.
It has a fairly limited range at the mountains where the Jequitinhinha River originates, near Diamantina. Although
the species is reputed to be very rare, the main problem is that the region is extremely vast and plants are difficult
or impossible to spot from the distance. With this, if you don't know the growing places it is almost sure you
won't find plants even looking for them for years. The moment you identify the precise growing conditions, though,
the task of finding these big plants get easier. The altitude Laelia angereri
is found is usually between 1000 and 1200 meters (about 3300 to 4000 ft.), and plants grow among shrubs on large
ledges or river gorges. On flat ledges, plants tend to grow a bit more exposed and thus get shorter. The size range
of plants go then from about aver 1 ft. to more almost 3 ft., plants and leaves. Flowers are produced on long inflorescences
that can have up to more than 40 2" flowers, and in cases like these the display is impressive. Laelia angereri is quite frequently found together with L. rupestris,
and the hybrid between them (Laelia x hispidula)
has been found more than once.
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Distribution Map for Laelia angereri.
The species has a very restrict distribution area, only being found around the origins of the Jequitinhonha River,
Minas Gerais State.
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On 1, Laelia angereri is seen under usual growing conditions among shrubs. This is one species that in most cases
grow deep inside the shrubs so plants are very difficult to spot unless one knows exactly where they are. When
they are with flowers, this gets a bit easier. Wild plants are very difficult to collect in good condition because
the very tall pseudobulbs grow between and around the lower branches of the shrubs. With this, the pseudobulbs
grow very tall and get plenty support from those branches and thus develop a very weak rhizome that brakes easily.
If one is not very careful, only a handful of loose pseudobulbs will be gathered.
On 2, we see a close-up of the orange form of Laelia angereri.
Actually, it is not really correct to treat colors as separate forms here as it is a color range. This one is about
as light orange as flowers of the species get. On 3, we have one of the dark red forms, which is about as dark
red as the flowers get. Both of them have very good shapes for the species. In between these two extremes, all
tones of orange-red can be found, and they are mixed in the habitat. |
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