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Ancistrochilus thomsonianus

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Photo by Marni Turkel, Orchidsforum.com.

Author: Robert Allen Rolfe, 1897
Family:  ORCHIDACEAE
Origin:  Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gulf of Guinea Islands, S Nigeria
Soil:  No, Epiphytic
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Minimum - Medium
Thickness:  3 Centimetres
Height:  20 Centimetres
Flower:  White / Purple
Propagate:  Seeds/Pseudobulbs
Names:  Thompson's Ancistrochilus
Synonyms:  Ipsea thomsoniana, Pfitzer, 1888.
Pachystoma thomsonianum, Rchb.f.

This member of the Orchidaceae family was given this name by Robert Allen Rolfe in 1897. It is found in the trees of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gulf of Guinea Islands and southern Nigeria, growing in hot and damp conditions with lots of water and little to some sun. The pseudobulbs can grow to three centimetres, the plant up to 20 centimetres high and 25 with the white and purple flowers.

The genera name is from the Greek words ankistron; 'hook' and cheilos 'lip', referring to the form of the lip of the flower. The species is named after the British doctor; T. Thomson.