Aerangis cryptodon is so similar to one of the varietal forms of Aerangis ellisii, that the two species often find themselves misidentified and interchanged. It's impossible to tell from your photos, but the most telling feature of a true cryptodon flower are two, short, backward-pointing "teeth" where the lip joins with the spur.

I'm not sure what you mean by the side petals facing forward. To me, they appear to be correctly "reflexed" -- or pointing backwards.

Nicely-grown plant, whatever it turns out to be!

-Bruce

I think it is cryptodon. In addition to what Bruce said, I've been led to believe that cryptodon will have a much more pronounced internodal distance between leaves, as compared to ellisii forms, and yours seems to have that. Very nice. Can I have a piece of it? TIA
-MB

Tank you guys!
In fact those are seller's photos who want to sell those shoots at the bottom of this plant,but he does not know the name either.
Therefore I been search the net for photos to compare with it trying to find out it's name before I consider of buying it.
What puzzled me the most is it's flower's two side peadals. When you look at the flower from the front pedals normally facing away from you "backward" ,but in this plant it is facing towards you "forward".
The closest I can think is Aerangis cryptodon but I just want secound opinion.

In the photo of the blooms, you are seeing a couple stages of the flower's life. The browning flower in the upper left is clearly aging, and the petals have curled forward for some reason. The other two are newly opened buds, and the petals haven't fully reflexed. (Perhaps in a day or so they'll reach that point.) The older bloom behind the others looks like it's correctly displayed.

If you're a serious collector, I'd want to see better photos of the bloom, so you can make an ID to your satisfaction. I'm an aerangis collector myself, but to be perfectly honest, I'd be hesitant to spend a lot of money on a division of this plant. For its size, the inflorescence should be a lot bigger with more buds. It's possible that the condition of the blooms is cultivation, but it may be genetic as well. If it's just for your collection, that's one thing, but if you plan to use it for breeding, that's another.

Good luck!

-Bruce

Thank you for your advise Bruce.
I am a newbie.
Never had any experience with orchid at all ,but I am learning and gather informations.
Some how I am just attracted by those rows of white flower and long necta.
I am just start collecting and I am still waitting for the book "Angraecoid orchids" to arrive.
Therefore my question may sounds stupid to more experience collector please forgive me.
Can you please show me photos of Aerangis punctata, Aerangis umbonata and Aerangis curnowiana?
Thank you again Bruce.

You can find your own photos, Matt. Cut and paste these links.

First go to Google
http://www.google.com
Now look at the very top left of the page where it says "Images' and click on that.
Then, put the name of the plant you want photos of and it will turn up a whole bunch of thumbnail photos that you can click on.

You can also go to
http://www.orchidspecies.com
Go down the page to the alphabet bar, and you can figure the rest out.

Enjoy!

"Can you please show me photos of Aerangis punctata, Aerangis umbonata and Aerangis curnowiana?"

Is that a trick question? Is this some kind of Angraecoid quiz?!!?

In addition to what was said already...when you get your new book, you'll find that curnowiana isn't a valid species name but is a syn. for punctata and/or monantha. Umbonata is a syn. of fuscata which, ironically enough, would look somewhat similar to punctata! Are you following me? Can you get plants labelled with those names? If so, you must live in Canada or Europe. If you're in the states, I'd certainly like to know where you're shopping? :)

MrB, you are slipping. Matt is in South Africa.

Thank you for sharing this information.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
The reason I were like Bruce to show me photos is because I am hoping that he can show me the different between those three.
No wonder I keep getting similar looking plant's photos when I search for Aerangis punctata, Aerangis umbonata and Aerangis curnowiana.
But when I look at Jay's Internet Orchid Species Photos Encyclopedia they are different species or sub-species.
Also the CITES orchids list make things even more confusing for me.
Maybe I have to wait for the book and cross check.

Hi again, Mattew ==

The problem with IDs for aerangis species especially, is that late 19th century/early 20th century competing French taxonomists/botanists were sloppy, did not compare notes, and were focused more on the status of naming a new species than accuracy. The peer-review process was nothing like what it is today. Consequently, our present mess.

There are some multiple names for single species, and CITES must list all of these to "cover their bases." (Imagine someone smuggling a plant claiming a name that CITES doesn't recognize...) And you are right -- Jay's site lists these multiple names as well. I think Jay takes the perspective that, "OK, here are the names and photos representing historical and present understanding. Until someone proves me wrong and consolidates the species, here's what we accept right now in 2009." Jay's site is not peer-reviewed, and he has been criticized in the past for this. However, his site represents one of the best and most comprehensive resources that orchid collectors have available to them. Therefore, it has great value in my opinion.

Aerangis species are variable. Some of this variation has to do with cultivation, and some is genetic. A couple of species are so true with respect to variation that they have been named as separate species, but are in fact subspecies. Aerangis ellisii is one example, and Aerangis fastuosa is another. Botanists have begun straightening these two species out.

It is possible that some of the original IDs may be correct -- that there were plants discovered that are in fact different. We may never know the complete truth. In a recent correspondence with a nursery in Madagascar that specializes in angraecoids, the owner shared that two well-known angraecoid specialists had plans to visit the nursery to help clear up some IDs. (Authors/contributors of the book, Angraecoid Orchids.) I don't know if this visit occurred, but we can hope that things will become clearer at some point.

If you have an opportunity to purchase a plant labelled with a name considered a synonym, but the bloom looks different -- BUY IT -- and ask questions later!

-Bruce

This all start when I try to purchase plants for my collection.
I often see similar plants labelled with different names.
While the plant is in bloom the seller will demand higher price ,but while it is not in bloom I can not tell the differents.
So I had to use my mobile phone to take photos and rush home to check and compare photos before I buy it.
Aerangis are not very popular orchid so they are often come with other orchid into the nursery and often forgotten by the owner.
After a while the nursery owner even forgot their names or lost the lable and price.
Often they just open their books and point at one of the similar plant to me said "that is it".
I am not trying to proof any thing.
Just a new guy want to know what is going on with those names.
You guys really helped me a lot.
Tank you for sharing it with me.
If there are any other good web sites or books please let me know.

If you can read French, this is one of my favorite websites for Madagascar orchids.

Here is a link that might be useful: Madagascar Orchids