Epidendrum
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum abbreviated Epi in horticultural trade, is a large neotropical genus
of the orchid family. With more than 1,100 species
, some authors describe it as a mega-genus. The genus name (from Greek
ɛpɨ, epi and δένδρον, dendron, "upon trees") refers to its epiphytic
growth habit. When Carolus Linnaeus
named this genus in 1763, he included in this genus all the epiphytic orchids known to him. Although few of these orchids are still included in the genus Epidendrum, some species of Epidendrum are nevertheless not epiphytic.
and subtropical
regions of the American continents
, from South Carolina
to Argentina
. Their habitat is mostly epiphytic
, a few are terrestrial (such as E. fulgens
) or rarely lithophytic (growing on bare rock, such as E. calanthm
and E. saxatile). Most are to be found in the Andes
, at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m. Their habitat varies from humid jungles to dry tropical forests, from sunny grassy slopes to cool cloud forests.
inflorescences, sometimes in corymbs or panicle
s. The apical, lateral or basal flower
s are mostly small to medium in size and frequently are not marked by a conspicuous display. The inflorescence
s are frequently dense. Many species are fragrant. The flowers may be produced only once, or during several years from the same or new inflorescence
s. The ellipsoid fruit
s are 3-ribbed capsules.
This genus has the following characteristics :
Initially, European taxonomists applied the generic epithet Epidendrum to all newly discovered epiphytic
orchids. Gradually, many of these "Epidendrums" were recognized as being quite diverse and deserving of different generic epithets -- many belong to different tribes or subtribes (e.g. Vanda). To add to the confusion, however, many descriptions of closely related species were published with different generic epithets.
As if the confusion caused by these publications were not great enough, many closely related genera (or perhaps subgenera, sections, or subsections) have been recognized and published. According to the modern rules of taxonomy, each new proposed genus that is split off from Epidendrum must bear the name of the oldest generic epithet published for a member of the new genus. Hence, many genera which have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum have later been segregated out again. Because most of these decisions rest on the informed opinions of authorities, the segregated taxa are often then re-published as synonyms
. Hence, some of the following information may seem a bit contradictory, especially if the assertion that two names are "synonyms" is misconstrued as an assertion that the two names mean exactly the same thing.
The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum:
Genera which have been erected (or resurrected) from Epidendrum include the following examples:
Several botanists have been honored with an Epidendrum orchid named after them, including the following:
Epidendrum orchids hybridize readily with members of the genus Cattleya
(Epicattleya
is the accepted nothogenus for such a hybrid) and other related genera such as Brassavola
(producing a Brassoepidendrum
). There are also multi-generic hybrids, for example, Adamara is the nothogenus for hybrids containing ancestor species from each of the genera Brassavola, Cattleya, Epidendrum, and Laelia
, but no others. (For several decades, the nothogeneric epithet Yamadara was commonly used to mean Adamara.)
, E. ibaguense
, E. nocturnum
, E. radicans
, E. secundum
, and a multitude of hybrids of these species.
Most Epidendrum species require intermediate to warm conditions for culture, although a few of the commonly cultivated species, such as E. radicans
grow in cool conditions. Some, such as E. magnoliae
(syn. E. conopseum) can even tolerate extended freezing conditions. In Auckland
and other sub-tropical regions of New Zealand
, the cool growing plants will flower all year round. While they are normally grown in pots, it is also possible to grow them in a bark garden or on a tree.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the orchid family. With more than 1,100 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, some authors describe it as a mega-genus. The genus name (from Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
ɛpɨ, epi and δένδρον, dendron, "upon trees") refers to its epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
growth habit. When Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
named this genus in 1763, he included in this genus all the epiphytic orchids known to him. Although few of these orchids are still included in the genus Epidendrum, some species of Epidendrum are nevertheless not epiphytic.
Distribution and ecology
They are native to the tropicsTropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
and subtropical
Subtropics
The subtropics are the geographical and climatical zone of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropical zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitudes 23.5°N and 23.5°S...
regions of the American continents
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Their habitat is mostly epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
, a few are terrestrial (such as E. fulgens
Epidendrum fulgens
Epidendrum fulgens is a crucifix orchid native to Brazil. Like E. secundum, with which it has been found to hybridize in habitats disturbed by human activity, E. fulgens flowers are non-resupinate and are born in a congested racime at the end of a long spike...
) or rarely lithophytic (growing on bare rock, such as E. calanthm
Epidendrum calanthum
Epidendrum calanthum is a terrestrial reed-stemmed Epidendrum orchid from the montane Tropical rainforest of Bolivia , Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and the West Indies.-Description:...
and E. saxatile). Most are to be found in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m. Their habitat varies from humid jungles to dry tropical forests, from sunny grassy slopes to cool cloud forests.
Characteristics
They are quite varied in flower size and appearance. They grow in tufts, in racemoseRaceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
inflorescences, sometimes in corymbs or panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
s. The apical, lateral or basal flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are mostly small to medium in size and frequently are not marked by a conspicuous display. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s are frequently dense. Many species are fragrant. The flowers may be produced only once, or during several years from the same or new inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s. The ellipsoid fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s are 3-ribbed capsules.
This genus has the following characteristics :
- a slit rostellum (small extension or little beak to the median stigma lobe), producing a transparent or white thick and adhesive liquid.
- the sometimes fringed lipLabellumLabellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
is adnate to ( = united with) the column (forming a nectary tube (but rarely producing nectar), continuing through the pedicelPedicel (botany)A pedicel is a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence. It is the branches or stalks that hold each flower in an inflorescence that contains more than one flower....
). The genus ProsthecheaProsthecheaProsthechea is a genus in the orchid family . The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke , referring to the appendage on the back of the column....
was split off because the lip is not completely adnate to the apex of the column.) - the pollinarium contains 4 pollinia (with sometimes 2 very reduced pollinia), rarely only 2 pollinia.
- the erect, pendent, or creeping stemsPlant stemA stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
are reed-like, simple or branching, or may be pseudobulbPseudobulbThe pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
s or thickened stems. (The genus CoilostylisCoilostylisCoilostylis, was split off from the "supergenus" Epidendrum in 2004. This genus features pseudobulbs, large bracts around the flowers, and flowers that are typically resupinate, with the trilobate lip adnate to the column and having a long thin midlobe...
, recently split off from Epidendrum, has pseudobulbs, as does ProsthecheaProsthecheaProsthechea is a genus in the orchid family . The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke , referring to the appendage on the back of the column....
.)
Synonymy
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
orchids. Gradually, many of these "Epidendrums" were recognized as being quite diverse and deserving of different generic epithets -- many belong to different tribes or subtribes (e.g. Vanda). To add to the confusion, however, many descriptions of closely related species were published with different generic epithets.
As if the confusion caused by these publications were not great enough, many closely related genera (or perhaps subgenera, sections, or subsections) have been recognized and published. According to the modern rules of taxonomy, each new proposed genus that is split off from Epidendrum must bear the name of the oldest generic epithet published for a member of the new genus. Hence, many genera which have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum have later been segregated out again. Because most of these decisions rest on the informed opinions of authorities, the segregated taxa are often then re-published as synonyms
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
. Hence, some of the following information may seem a bit contradictory, especially if the assertion that two names are "synonyms" is misconstrued as an assertion that the two names mean exactly the same thing.
The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum:
- Amphiglottis Salisb.Richard Anthony SalisburyRichard Anthony Salisbury FRS was a British botanist. While he is remembered as a valuable worker in horticultural and botanical sciences, several bitter disputes caused him to be ostracised by his contemporaries.-Life:...
- Anacheilium Hoffmanns.
- Anocheile Hoffmanns. ex Rchb.
- Auliza SmallJohn Kunkel SmallJohn Kunkel Small was an American botanist.He was the first Curator of Museums at The New York Botanical Garden, a post in which he served from 1898 until 1906. From 1906 to 1934 he was Head Curator and then from 1934 until his death he was Chief Research Associate and Curator...
- Coilostylis Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Didothion Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Diothonea Lindl.John LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
- Dothilophis Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Doxosma Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Epicladium SmallJohn Kunkel SmallJohn Kunkel Small was an American botanist.He was the first Curator of Museums at The New York Botanical Garden, a post in which he served from 1898 until 1906. From 1906 to 1934 he was Head Curator and then from 1934 until his death he was Chief Research Associate and Curator...
- Epidanthus L.O.Williams
- Epidendropsis GarayGarayGarai is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
& Dunst. - Exophya Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Hemiscleria Lindl.John LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
- Kalopternix GarayGarayGarai is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
& Dunst. - Lanium (Lindl.John LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
) Benth.George BenthamGeorge Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :... - Larnandra Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Microepidendrum Brieger (nom. inval.)
- Minicolumna Brieger (nom. inval.)
- Nanodes Lindl.John LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
- Neolehmannia Kraenzl.
- Neowilliamsia GarayGarayGarai is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
- Nyctosma Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Phadrosanthus Neck. ex Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
- Physinga Lindl.John LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
- Pleuranthium Benth.George BenthamGeorge Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
- Pseudepidendrum Rchb.f.Heinrich Gustav ReichenbachHeinrich Gustav Reichenbach was an ornithologist, botanist and the foremost German orchidologist of the 19th century...
- Seraphyta Fisch.Friedrich Ernst Ludwig von FischerFriedrich Ernst Ludwig Fischer was a Russian botanist, born in Germany. He was director of the St Petersburg botanical garden from 1823 to 1850....
& C.A.Mey. - Spathiger SmallJohn Kunkel SmallJohn Kunkel Small was an American botanist.He was the first Curator of Museums at The New York Botanical Garden, a post in which he served from 1898 until 1906. From 1906 to 1934 he was Head Curator and then from 1934 until his death he was Chief Research Associate and Curator...
- Stenoglossum KunthCarl Sigismund KunthCarl Sigismund Kunth , also Karl Sigismund Kunth or anglicized as Charles Sigismund Kunth, was a German botanist...
- Tritelandra Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
.
Genera which have been erected (or resurrected) from Epidendrum include the following examples:
- Anacheilium (Lindl.John LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
.) Withner & P.A.Harding 2004. This genus contains more than 50 species, reclassified from ProsthecheaProsthecheaProsthechea is a genus in the orchid family . The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke , referring to the appendage on the back of the column....
, EncycliaEncycliaEncyclia is a genus of orchids. The genus name comes from Greek enkykleomai , referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. The abbreviation in the horticultural trade is E....
, and Epidendrum. - BarkeriaBarkeriaBarkeria, abbreviated Bark in horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids originating from Mexico, comprising about 15 species. This genus was once considered part of Epidendrum....
- DimerandraDimerandraDimerandra, abbreviated Dmd. in the horticultural trade, is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.-Species:Kew, in its World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, has accepted nine species in this genus:...
- CaularthronCaularthronCaularthron Raf. , abbreviated Cau. in the horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids with 4 species. They are epiphytic orchids with specialized hollow pseudobulbs that house ants. The genus is exclusively found in the neotropics....
- CoilostylisCoilostylisCoilostylis, was split off from the "supergenus" Epidendrum in 2004. This genus features pseudobulbs, large bracts around the flowers, and flowers that are typically resupinate, with the trilobate lip adnate to the column and having a long thin midlobe...
(Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
)Withner & Harding - EncycliaEncycliaEncyclia is a genus of orchids. The genus name comes from Greek enkykleomai , referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. The abbreviation in the horticultural trade is E....
This is another "mega-genus" differing from Epidendrum in that the plants are mostly pseudobulbous, and in that the lip "encircles" the column, rather than being adnate. Like Epidendrum, genera have been and are likely to continue to be split off from this genus. - Euchile (Dressler & G.E. Pollard) C.L. Withner 1998 was elevated from a section of EncycliaEncycliaEncyclia is a genus of orchids. The genus name comes from Greek enkykleomai , referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. The abbreviation in the horticultural trade is E....
with two species. - HormidiumHormidiumThe taxonomic concept "Hormidium" has been published numerous times with the same meaning but with different taxonomic ranks: as a genus by Bentham & Hooker, as a subgenus of Epidendrum by Reichenbach, and as a section of Epidendrum by Lindley...
Lindl. ex Heynh, described by Brieger as having the lip adnate to the proximal part of the column. Brieger placed more than 100 species in this genus. (LindleyJohn LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
was unsure if this was a genus, subgenus, or section.) Withner and Harding recently transferred two more species into this genus: one from Epidendrum and one from EncycliaEncycliaEncyclia is a genus of orchids. The genus name comes from Greek enkykleomai , referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. The abbreviation in the horticultural trade is E....
. - Microepidendrum Brieger ex W.E.Higgins 2002
- Nanodes
- OerstedellaOerstedellaOerstedella is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
Rchb.f.Heinrich Gustav ReichenbachHeinrich Gustav Reichenbach was an ornithologist, botanist and the foremost German orchidologist of the 19th century... - OestlundiaOestlundiaOestlundia is a validly published genus of orchid within the subtribe Laeliinae. Its component species are found from Mexico to Venezuela.-Taxonomic history:...
W.E.Higgins 2001
- PanaricaPanaricaPanarica is a genus in the orchid family and contains 6 species.- Description :The name "Panarica" is a combination of Panama and Costa Rica where all the members of the genus are found...
Withner & P.A.Harding 2004 contains six species, some from ProsthecheaProsthecheaProsthechea is a genus in the orchid family . The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke , referring to the appendage on the back of the column....
and some from Epidendrum - Pollardia Withner & P.A.Harding 2004 contains seventeen species, some from ProsthecheaProsthecheaProsthechea is a genus in the orchid family . The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke , referring to the appendage on the back of the column....
and some from Epidendrum. - ProsthecheaProsthecheaProsthechea is a genus in the orchid family . The name is derived from the Greek word prostheke , referring to the appendage on the back of the column....
This debatable genus contains the "cockleshell orchids", with lips which are adnate to the column only about halfway to the apex, and which "encircle" the end of the column. Most of the species of this genus were long classified in EncycliaEncycliaEncyclia is a genus of orchids. The genus name comes from Greek enkykleomai , referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. The abbreviation in the horticultural trade is E....
. Some species of this genus have been placed in Anacheilium (Lindl.John LindleyJohn Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
) Withner & P.A.Harding 2004 and PanaricaPanaricaPanarica is a genus in the orchid family and contains 6 species.- Description :The name "Panarica" is a combination of Panama and Costa Rica where all the members of the genus are found...
Withner & P.A.Harding 2004. - Pseudencyclia Chiron & V.P.Castro 2003
- Psichylus
Species
Epidendrum sensu latu is a huge genus, embracing more than 2,000 binomials (about 1,100 accepted names and the rest have become synonyms of other species). More than 1,000 have been split off into new or resurrected genera. However, it is estimated that there are more than 2,000 Epidendrum orchids, many of which still have to be discovered. More than 400 new species have lately been described by Eric Hágsater and colleagues (see: Reference).Several botanists have been honored with an Epidendrum orchid named after them, including the following:
- E. carnevalii Hágsater & L.Sánchez, (1999). (named after Carnevali)
- E. dunstervilleorum Foldats, (1967). (named after G.C.K. and E. Dunsterville, husband and wife)
- E. foldatsii Hágsater & Carnevali, (1993). (named after Foldats)
- E. garayi Løjtnant, (1977). (named after Garay)
- E. garciae Pabst, (1976). (named after Garcia-Cruz)
- E. hagsateri Christenson, (1995). (named after Hágsater)
- E. lueri Dodson & Hágsater, (1989). (was named after Dr. Luer of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, author of the series of monographs about the Pleurothallidinae orchids, the Icones Pleurothallidinarum)
- E. schlechterianum AmesOakes Ames (botanist)Oakes Ames was an American botanist specializing in orchids. His estate is now the Borderland State Park in Massachusetts....
, (1924). (named after Rudolf Schlechter) - E. schweinfurthianum Correll, (1947). (named after Schweinfurth)
Hybrids
Only a few natural hybrids have been named, such as Epidendrum × doroteae, Epidendrum × gransabanense and Epidendrum × purpureum.Epidendrum orchids hybridize readily with members of the genus Cattleya
Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids...
(Epicattleya
Epicattleya
Epicattleya is an intergeneric orchid hybrid. The nothogenus is abbreviated Epc. in the horticultural trade....
is the accepted nothogenus for such a hybrid) and other related genera such as Brassavola
Brassavola
Brassavola is a genus of 20 orchids . They were named in 1813 by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown. The name comes from the Venetian nobleman and physician Antonio Musa Brassavola. This genus is abbreviated B. in trade journals....
(producing a Brassoepidendrum
Brassoepidendrum
Brassoepidendrum, abbreviated Bepi. in the horticultural trade, is the nothogenus of intergeneric orchid hybrids including wild ancestors from both genera Brassavola and Epidendrum, and from no others....
). There are also multi-generic hybrids, for example, Adamara is the nothogenus for hybrids containing ancestor species from each of the genera Brassavola, Cattleya, Epidendrum, and Laelia
Laelia
Laelia, abbreviated L. in the horticultural trade, is a small genus of 25 species from the orchid family . This is one of the most important and popular orchid genera, because of the beautiful flowers, their genetic properties and because they are fairly easy in culture. It is probably named after...
, but no others. (For several decades, the nothogeneric epithet Yamadara was commonly used to mean Adamara.)
Culture
Although the flowers of many Epidendrum species are rather small and not very showy, many are nevertheless widely cultivated, such as E. cinnabarinumEpidendrum cinnabarinum
Epidendrum cinnabarinum, is a terrestrial reed-stemmed Epidendrum, discovered by the German collector Philipp Salzmann in Bahia, close to Salvador, and published by John Lindley in 1831. The specific epithet refers to the vermilion flowers. E. cinnabarinum is similar to E. fulgens and E...
, E. ibaguense
Epidendrum ibaguense
Epidendrum ibaguense is a species of epiphytic orchid of the genus Epidendrum which occurs in Trinidad, French Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia and Northern Brazil.There is a good article on this species in the Português Wikipedia...
, E. nocturnum
Epidendrum nocturnum
Epidendrum nocturnum is the type species of the genus Epidendrum of the Orchidaceae .The species occurs in Florida, Bahamas, West Indies, Central America to northern Brazil and the Guyanas...
, E. radicans
Epidendrum radicans
This ground-rooting orchid is a common roadside weed at middle elevations in Central America. A crucifix orchid, it is often confused with many other members of the section Schistochila, including E. calanthe, E. cinnabarinum, E. denticulatum, E. erectum, E. fulgens,...
, E. secundum
Epidendrum secundum
Epidendrum secundum, one of the crucifix orchids, is a poorly understood reed stemmed species, which Dressler describes as "the Epidendrum secundum complex." According to Dressler, there are dozens of varieties, some of which appear to deserve species rank...
, and a multitude of hybrids of these species.
Most Epidendrum species require intermediate to warm conditions for culture, although a few of the commonly cultivated species, such as E. radicans
Epidendrum radicans
This ground-rooting orchid is a common roadside weed at middle elevations in Central America. A crucifix orchid, it is often confused with many other members of the section Schistochila, including E. calanthe, E. cinnabarinum, E. denticulatum, E. erectum, E. fulgens,...
grow in cool conditions. Some, such as E. magnoliae
Epidendrum magnoliae
Epidendrum magnoliae, commonly known as Epidendrum conopsem is a species of orchid in the genus Epidendrum. It is the most northern-growing Epidendrum in nature, being found wild as far north as North Carolina...
(syn. E. conopseum) can even tolerate extended freezing conditions. In Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and other sub-tropical regions of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the cool growing plants will flower all year round. While they are normally grown in pots, it is also possible to grow them in a bark garden or on a tree.