Grammangis ellisii is an African botanical species, endemic (grows only) to northern and eastern Madagascar, where it inhabits humid forest areas from sea level up to altitudes of 1300 m, usually in areas above rivers, having a high thermal tolerance as it can grow equally well in warm or cold climates. Accepted synonyms for this species are Gabertia ellisii (Lindl.) Gaudich. 1892, Grammangis fallax Schltr. 1915, Grammatophyllum ellisi Lindley 1860.
The plants generally have a medium to tall height, ranging from 50 to 60 cm, with ovoid-tetragonal, massive pseudobulbs measuring 8 to 10 cm at maturity, covered with a few deciduous, scaly bracts, and bearing 3 to 5 oblong, folded leaves, obliquely rounded at the tip, 15 to 40 cm long and 1.5 to 4 cm wide, fully developed at the time of flowering. They usually bloom from January until mid-summer, simultaneously with the development of new vegetative growths, on young, partially developed pseudobulbs, on basal emergent, arching stems up to 90 cm long, equipped with 3 to 4 broad basal bracts and another 3 to 4 widely spaced cataphylls. Typically, Grammangis produces between 15 and 40 fragrant, waxy flowers about 7.5 cm in diameter, with a background color of chestnut or green/yellow in the white variant (albino). The flowers form racemose inflorescences. The median sepal is obovate, 4 cm long and 2 cm wide, wider in the central area. The lateral petals are the same length but slightly narrower compared to the central sepal, acuminate at the tip, sickle-shaped, and have 17 veins. The falcate labellum is trilobed, with subacute lateral lobes and a slightly longer and narrower median lobe, basally provided with a massive callus, bifurcated apically. The column measures 10 mm in length, with obtuse triangular auricles.
Grammangis ellisii occupies epiphytic habitats, populating the moist eastern and northern forests along rivers in Madagascar and on Sainte Marie Island, where it was historically mentioned but was not found during a 1981 census.
It prefers medium light conditions, around 20,000 lux, but can tolerate higher values up to 30,000 lux. Growth temperatures should be moderate to warm, with the plants better suited to warm growing spaces. In cold climate conditions, the flowers will take on a greenish tint and be less intensely colored.
Intense ventilation is an essential condition for the successful growth of this species, to avoid leaf burn under strong lighting conditions.
The ideal growing medium consists of medium-diameter conifer bark, and the plants can be grown without problems in standard pots, similar to species of the Lycaste genus.
Grammangis ellisii should be watered abundantly during the active growth period, starting in spring, and it is recommended to fertilize at every watering, weekly, provided that a rest/semi-rest period is given from autumn to early spring, when both watering and fertilizing will be stopped or significantly reduced.
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