Aerangis seegeri
Species Data
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Scientific Name: Aerangis seegeri
IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable
Description
Aerangis seegeri is a climbing orchid which grows on the moss-coated trunks of trees. It is best identified by its fan-shaped leaves and pink or apricot coloured, star-shaped flowers. As an epiphyte, it is not parasitic in nature and causes no harm to the host tree. Growing at the lowest branches and below the tree line, this orchid is not reliant on direct sunlight to grow.
Climate and Range
Aerangis seegeri is endemic to the wet tropical forests of Madagascar, growing at elevations up to 1,100 metres above sea level. It is considered native to the eastern regions of Madagascar but has been introduced to other areas, including nearby small islands.
Threats and Conservation
The current population of Aerangis seegeri is unknown. There has been a large reduction in this orchid’s range due to ongoing destruction of the eastern Madagascan evergreen forests as a result of clearing for agriculture, mining, and annual fire events. It is subsequently considered Vulnerable to extinction.
