Angraecum Spike vs. Root

[OrchidCanuck]

Hello All,

I have an angraecum bosseri (also called Angraecum sesquipedale var. angustifolium - but that is just too hard to spell!). Anyway, it's sending out a new growth from high in the plant. It's been emerging at the typical, glacial angraecum pace over the past 2-3 months and the suspense is killing me. Is it a root or a spike? Any guesses or educated comments? Either way I'm happy, any new growth means the plant is happy! (But a big ol' bloom would be spectacular!)

[switchblade]

its definitely a root. The white at the base and green tip indicates a new root.

[jsehorn]

Definitely a root.

[Filb]

Side questions: what do Angraecum spikes look like? Where do they come from?

[jsehorn]

The spike will come from the point where the leaf joins the stem, not from the side like that. A spike will also be all green with little nodes, not smooth and white with a green tip.

[BGGraham1]

I just happen to have an Angraecum didieri that I purchased in spike in JULY!!! It hasn't budged, so I got some shots of what it looks like for you.





Hope that helps.

[Leafmite]

Two of my didieri have these buds but I've also heard that they take forever to bloom. I don't even look at them when I water any more. I'll probably smell them before I see them.
Leafmite

[syndywindy]

Didieri's are slow bloomers. Mine has bloomed twice now and each time it was a long wait. Theis last one, I noticed the spike late winter, early spring and it finally bloomed in September. But definitely worth the wait!

[katrina]

The accepted name of your Ang is now simply...Angraecum sesquipedale.

As others have pointed out...that's a root. The spikes will always grow upwards. My sesquipedale is spiking...here's a couple of pics...this might help you to know what you're looking for in the future. The lighting is horrible...sorry about that.

[Filb]

Katrina, that bud with the curled spur/nectary is beautiful!
Thanks all for the clarification.

[katrina]

You're welcome Filb! I have a pretty good sized Ang collection going and I should rephrase something...sesquipedale will have spikes that always grow up. Not all Angs do though. Seems the larger ones like sesquip will grow up...some grow out...some barely have any spike (like the didieri), some have no noticeable spike (like distichum), some grow out a bit and then hang...there is a variety w/in the group.

BTW -- the nectary (or spurs) will unfurl and elongate (hopefully- unfortunately some of mine get caught up). It really is a cool characteristic of most all the Angraecoids.