Aeranthes

Taxobox
name = "Aeranthes"


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Aeranthes henricii"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Orchidaceae
subfamilia = Higher Epidendroideae
tribus = Vandeae
subtribus = Angraecinae
alliance = Angraecum
genus = "Aeranthes"
genus_authority = Lindl.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "Aeranthes adenopoda"
* "Aeranthes aemula"
* "Aeranthes africana"
* "Aeranthes albidiflora"
* "Aeranthes ambrensis"
* "Aeranthes angustidens"
* "Aeranthes antennophora"
* "Aeranthes arachnitis"
* "Aeranthes bathieana"
* "Aeranthes biauriculata"
* "Aeranthes brevivaginans"
* "Aeranthes carnosa"
* "Aeranthes caudata"
* "Aeranthes crassifolia"
* "Aeranthes denticulata"
* "Aeranthes ecalcarata"
* "Aeranthes erectiflora"
* "Aeranthes filiformis"
* "Aeranthes filipes"
* "Aeranthes gracilis"
* "Aeranthes grandiflorus"
* "Aeranthes gravenreuthii"
* "Aeranthes henrici"
* "Aeranthes imerinensis"
* "Aeranthes laxiflora"
* "Aeranthes leandriana"
* "Aeranthes longipes"
* "Aeranthes moratii"
* "Aeranthes multinodis"
* "Aeranthes neoperrieri"
* "Aeranthes nidus"
* "Aeranthes orophila"
* "Aeranthes orthopoda"
* "Aeranthes parkesii"
* "Aeranthes parvula"
* "Aeranthes perrieri"
* "Aeranthes peyrotii"
* "Aeranthes pseudonidus"
* "Aeranthes pusilla"
* "Aeranthes ramosa"
* "Aeranthes rigidula"
* "Aeranthes robusta"
* "Aeranthes sambiranoensis"
* "Aeranthes schlechteri"
* "Aeranthes setipes"
* "Aeranthes tenelia"
** "Aeranthes tenella" var. "borbonica"
* "Aeranthes tricalcarata"
* "Aeranthes tropophila"
synonyms ="Aeranthus" Lindl. ex Spreng., orth. var.

"Aeranthes", abbreviated Aerth in horticultural trade, is an orchid genus with 47 species, mostly from shady, tropical humid forests in Zimbabwe, Madagascar and islands in the Western Indian Ocean. The name "aeranthes" means 'aerial flower', because it seems to float in the air.

"Aeranthes" has a single short, erect, monopodial stem. The leathery, shining, opposite leaves are arranged in two rows of five to seven leaves, with a length of 15-25 cm. New leaves are formed at the top of the stem in a monopodial growth pattern.

The threadlike flower stalk grows downward to a length of almost 30cm. It carries one or two almost translucent, greenish yellow flowers. The sepals and the shorter petals taper off into five long, narrow shoots. Some give an agreeable, sweet scent in the evening or early morning.