Aerangis calantha Schltr.

Stem very short, woody, up to 3 cm. long, 3 mm. in diameter, bearing smooth slender greyish roots 1–1.5 mm. wide in the lower part.. Leaves 2–6, alternate, usually distichous, closely overlapping on the stem, linear, 3–8 cm. long, 4–8 mm. wide, often falcate, somewhat attenuated towards the base, unequally bilobed at the apex, the lobes acute, 0–3 mm. long, the shorter one sometimes absent, margins entire, thin or somewhat fleshy, dark green with a few black dots.. Inflorescences arising below the leaves or in the leaf-axils, often from the same site as in preceding years, spreading or pendent, up to 11 cm. long bearing 2–5(–8) flowers; peduncle terete, up to 3 cm. long, 2 mm. in diameter, bearing 1–3 tubular sheaths; rhacnis straight; bracts broadly triangular, 1–3 mm. long.. Flowers held erect, secund, 1–1.5 cm. apart, white, the spur often pink; pedicel with ovary pinkish brown, 12–17 mm. long.. Dorsal sepal erect, oblong-lanceolate, subacute, 7–12 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar, slighdy longer and narrower, projecting forwards.. Petals spreading or slightly reflexed, linear-oblong, subacute, 7–10 mm. long, 2–2.5 mm. wide.. Lip oblong-lanceolate, apiculate, 7–10 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. wide.. Spur slender, gradually tapering to the pointed tip which is often curved or hooked forwards in the lower 5–10 mm., 2.5–4 cm. long.. Column short and thick, 1.5–2 mm. long; androclinium sloping, anther-cap beaked; rostellum curving downwards and then forwards; pollinia reniform; stipes slender, attached to the centre of the viscidium; viscidium slipper-shaped, fitting over the tip of the rostellum; stigmatic surface ± oblong, large, occupying most of the front of the column.. Fruit a cylindrical capsule, to 5 cm. long, 5 mm. in diameter.