Aerangidinae
Encyclopedia
Aerangidinae is a subtribe within the tribe
Vandeae
in family Orchidaceae
. It consists of 36 genera and about 300 species. The type genus
of this subtribe is Aerangis
. Members of this group are epiphytic
orchids having a monopodial
habit and are endemic to tropical Africa
and Madagascar
. They are distinguished from the other subtribes in Vandeae by having an elongate rostellum
, an elongate spur, and two pollinia
. Most genera in the group indicate pollination by moths, however leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae) are reported as frequent visitors, but it is unknown whether they are vectors
for pollination.
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Vandeae
Vandeae
The Vandeae is a large monophyletic tribe within the family of orchids.This tribe contains 1,700 - 2,000 species in more than 150 genera. The classification of taxa within this tribe is still largely based on floral morphology...
in family Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
. It consists of 36 genera and about 300 species. The type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of this subtribe is Aerangis
Aerangis
Aerangis, abbreviated as Aergs in horticultural trade, is a genus of the Orchid family . The name of this genus has been derived from the Greek words 'aer' and 'angos' , referring to the form of the lip. It is the type genus of the subtribe Aerangidinae...
. Members of this group are epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
orchids having a monopodial
Monopodial
Vascular plants with monopodial growth habits grow upward from a single point. They add leaves to the apex each year and the stem grows longer accordingly...
habit and are endemic to tropical Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. They are distinguished from the other subtribes in Vandeae by having an elongate rostellum
Rostellum
The rostellum is a projecting part of the column in Orchidaceae flowers, and separates the male stamen from the female gynoecium, commonly preventing self-fertilisation...
, an elongate spur, and two pollinia
Pollinium
Pollinium, or plural pollinia, is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant.They are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of milkweeds .Most orchids have waxy pollinia...
. Most genera in the group indicate pollination by moths, however leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae) are reported as frequent visitors, but it is unknown whether they are vectors
Pollinator
A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...
for pollination.