Rigid Aerides (Aerides Ringens), also known as the Open-Mouthed Aerides is a miniature to small orchid growing on trees native to the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats of India, S. Lanka and the Andamans. It has a short stem carrying rigidly leathery narrow leaves. The plant blooms in the spring and summer on an axillary, stout, erect to ascending, rarely branched, dull purple, furrowed inflorescence, up to 20 cm long. The inflorescence is densely many flowered, carrying fragrant flowers white to pink to pale purple flowers.
The genus name Aerides comes from the Greek word aer (air/wind), pointing out the epiphytic growth habit. The specific epithet ringens means “open-mouthed”, describing the distinct shape of its flowers.
It thrives naturally in tropical moist deciduous forests, semi-evergreen forests, and savannah areas at elevations ranging from 100 to 600 meters, often anchored high on tree branches.
Shot in Coorg Nikon Gears, July 2026 © Dr.Bishan Monnappa
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