Another first flowering seedling for today’s orchid of the day. This is Podangis dactylocras, a small fan shaped species widespread across tropical Africa from Angola in the south to Sierra Leone in the West and Tanzania in the East.

The moth pollinated flowers are white (a common character in African orchids) and produced on short spikes from the axils of the pointed leaves. Flowers are 6mm across and have a 1cm spur with an unusual flattened tip that reminds us of a fish’s tail.

Plants enjoy a warm shaded spot and respond by producing multiple growths that in time will give a mass of flowers.