Solenangis impraedicta is an orchid that was described in early 2024. It was found in central Madagascar where it is pollinated by hawkmoths. Scientists noted how this orchid has an extremely long nectar spur, measuring in at about long.
Description The flowers are 2 cm wide. The spur is 33 cm long.
Taxonomy It was published by Tariq Stévart, João N. M. Farminhão, Marie Savignac, Simon Verlynde, and Brigitte Ramandimbisoa in 2024.Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-ac). Solenangis impraedicta Stévart, Farminhão, Savignac, Verlynde & Ramand. Tropicos. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/100545321 Etymology The specific epithet impraedicta means unpredicted.
Ecology Pollination It is likely pollinated by hawk moths.Lingenhöhl, D. (2024, March 15). Unerwartete Orchidee mit rekordverdächtigen Ausmaßen. Spektrum Der Wissenschaft. https://www.spektrum.de/news/botanik-unerwartete-orchidee-mit-rekordverdaechtigen-ausmassen/2211172 The most likely pollinator species are Xanthopan praedicta and Coelonia solani.
Conservation It is a rare species and may be threatened by mining and the collection of plants from their natural habitat. The exact location of the populations are not disclosed, due to conservation concerns.
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