Aerangis verdickii Schltr.

Stem woody, up to 2 cm. in diameter, to 5 cm. long but usually very short, with numerous greyish roots 5–9 mm. in diameter and very elongated.. Leaves 2–6, distichous, oblong-ligulate, 5–20 cm. long, 2–5 cm. wide, slighdy narrowed towards the base, margins undulate, the apex bilobed, the lobes rounded or acute, equal or subequal, 2–11 (–20) mm. long, thick and coriaceous or almost succulent in texture, greyish green, often with a narrow band of red at the margin, often split along the midvein in herbarium specimens.. Inflorescences arising below the leaves bearing 4–12 flowers, up to 40 cm. long, usually ± 20 cm.; peduncle terete, up to 6 cm. long, 5 mm. in diameter, bearing several tubular sheaths; rhachis similar, almost straight; bracts broadly ovate, apiculate, up to 10 mm. long.. Flowers arranged in 1–2 rows, 1.5–3.5 cm. apart; perianth-parts reflexed or spreading, white, rarely faintly tinted with pink in the ovary and spur; pedicel with ovary slender and curved, 2–3.8 cm. long.. Dorsal sepal slightly concave, arching forwards over the column, ovate-oblong, apiculate, 11–15 mm. long, 4–8 mm. wide; lateral sepals spreading or deflexed, often falcate, narrowly oblong-ligulate with a slightly thickened apicule, 14–21 mm. long, 3–5 mm. wide.. Petals reflexed, obovate-oblong, apiculate, 12–18 mm. long, 3.5–8 mm. wide.. Lip oblong-obovate, 11–18 mm. long, 5–9 mm. wide, bearing 2 distinct ridges at its base in front of the spur opening and sometimes with additional ridges on either side of these, often deflexed towards the spur, apiculate.. Spur slender, curved, often slightly bent, thickened and flattened in the apical half, 12–16(–20) cm. long.. Column terete, enlarged towards the apex, 3–5 mm. long; rostellum deflexed, porrect at the tip, wider than the stipes; anther-cap with an obtuse beak; pollinia reniform, 1 mm. long; stipes slender, widened in the upper third; viscidium ± ovate.