With its natural diversity, Madagascar has unsurprisingly long fascinated explorers.

For ages, the fauna and flora of the 4th largest island have been recognized among the most unique in the world, but also among the most endangered. Nearly the vegetation zones that range from the primary lowland rainforest located in the east coast and the central highlands and mountains cover the uniqueness of Madagascar’s fauna and flora. Among this uniqueness is orchid flora, a flowering plant that is found almost in every vegetation areas of the island. As a matter of fact, Madagascar has a rich orchid flora of about 1,000 species. Over 90 percent of the existing orchid species found in Madagascar and nearly 20 percent of their genera are endemic. Endemicity of its orchids at both the species and generic level is higher than anywhere else in the world (Cribb &Hermans, 2007).

Madagascar’s orchids are so unique that it amazes orchid lovers and attract researchers to discover how such endemic species evolve in their habitat and how to conserve them, considering that orchids are highly threatened with extinction due to climate change as well as forest clearance. Madagascar’s orchids are qualified “Hanitriniala”, which literally means that they are considered as the fragrance of Madagascar’s forest. Some examples of orchid species seen and dispersed in the vegetation areas of Madagascar ranging from the eastern rainforest to the central plateau include:

 Cymbidiella, a genus of three species of epiphytic orchids that essentially grows on the surface of a plant. The three genera of orchid species are all endemic to Madagascar. One of them is the orchid named Cymbidiela flabellata, a flowering plant which is mostly present in the lowland rainforest. This is a species that ranges from 1 to 1.5 m in height. Its leaves are 20 to 50 cm long and 1.7 to 2 cm in width. The flowers of this orchid are quite charming, yet less desirable due to their smaller size. Regarding its efflorescence, it blooms from September to February.

 Angraecum, commonly known as comet orchid, is a genus in the orchid family that is made up of about 220 species. Angraecum sororium is one of those species. It is a breath-taking plant reaching up to one meter when it is in its full floral glory. This orchid is a terrestrial or lithophytic orchid and is referred to as a plant growing in rocks. It is essentially found in the central highlands in the region closest to the capital Antananarivo and grows fully exposed on boulders and granite outcrops. Its flowering season runs from January to March.

Recently, a new orchid called Gastrodia Agnicellus has been discovered in the southeast region of Madagascar. This is a peculiar species labeled the ugliest orchid in the world by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources: Phillipp Cribb &Johan Hermans (2007). “The conservation of Madagascar’s orchids. A model for an integrated for conservation project”; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew / African Orchids