Angraecum magdalenae var. latiilabellum

Names and Taxonomy

The accepted scientific name for this taxon is Angraecum magdalenae var. latiilabellum Bosser. The variety was first published in Adansonia n.s., 5: 408 (1965) and is listed as an accepted infraspecific name by Kew’s Plants of the World Online (POWO) [1]. The parent species Angraecum magdalenae Schltr. & H.Perrier is also accepted by POWO [2]. A synonym recorded in the International Plant Names Index (IPNI) is Rudolfangraecum magdalenae (Schltr. & H.Perrier) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka (2013) [3]. No common name is documented for the variety.

How to Identify This Variety

Published descriptions of the variety are brief; they note that it is an epiphytic subshrub growing in wet tropical forest [1]. Morphological details specific to var. latiilabellum are not provided in the available snippets. The species A. magdalenae is described as having medium‑sized, white, jasmine‑scented flowers 7.5–10 cm long, with a long spur about 10 cm, and an inflorescence 2–3 cm long bearing 1–5 flowers [10]. While these characters likely apply to the variety, the source does not explicitly separate them, so identification should rely on the combination of:

• Epiphytic habit on tree branches or mossy trunks.
• Leaves that are short, distichous, fleshy‑coriaceous, and oblong‑ligulate (as described for the species).
• White, fragrant flowers with a long nectar spur, similar in size to the species.

Because the variety has not been illustrated in the cited sources, definitive visual differences from the nominal variety (var. magdalenae) remain undocumented.

Native Range and Habitat

The variety is recorded as native to northern Madagascar, occurring in a wet tropical biome and growing as an epiphyte on trees [1]. No elevation range is given for the variety, but the parent species is reported from elevations of 800–2000 m in central Madagascar [10]. The habitat is therefore likely humid montane forest, with high canopy moisture and frequent mist.

Species‑Specific Care

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Because specific cultivation records for var. latiilabellum are lacking, growers should treat the variety as a typical Angraecum epiphyte, adjusting conditions based on observed growth and flowering response.

Flowering and Pollination

The parent species Angraecum magdalenae blooms in the later spring to early summer, producing 1–5 white, fragrant flowers on a short inflorescence [10]. Flowers are described as 7.5–10 cm long with a 10 cm nectar spur, emitting a strong jasmine scent at night. Pollination by long‑tongued hawkmoths is typical for many white‑spurred Angraecum species, but no study specifically documents the pollinator of var. latiilabellum. Therefore, pollination details remain inferred rather than confirmed.

Evidence and Limitations

The taxonomy and native distribution of Angraecum magdalenae var. latiilabellum are well supported by Kew’s POWO database and the original publication (Bosser 1965). Morphological descriptions, detailed habitat parameters, and cultivation requirements are sparse; most horticultural advice is extrapolated from the species level and marked as not directly documented. Further field studies and horticultural observations are needed to clarify leaf dimensions, flower measurements specific to the variety, elevation range, pollinator identity, and optimal growing conditions in cultivation.