Amesiella philippinensis

Description

Amesiella philippinensis is a species of orchid endemic to the Island of Luzon in the Philippines.Like Vanda falcata it was mistaken as an Angraecum species, due to the white, long-spurred flowers. The plant produces rounded leaces up to 5 cm in length. Three or four white, fragrant flowers of 3 cm in width are produced on short inflorescences. The labellum is yellow in the throat. It occurs at lower altitudes than Amesiella monticola and has a shorter spur. Amesiella is a genus of orchids endemic to the Island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Previously it was believed that the species of this genus belonged to the genus Angraecum within the subtribe Angraecinae. The genus is named for Oakes Ames (botanist) (1874-1950), founder of the orchid herbarium at Harvard University. These short-stemmed, miniature epiphytes form elliptic, coriaceous, distichous leaves. White flowers with pronounces spurs, indicating moth pollination, are formed on short, axillary racemes.