Epidendrum alpicolum
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum alpicolum Rchb.f. & Warsz., Bonplandia 2:110 (1854), often called Epidendrum alpicola, is a tropical orchid
native to Bolivia
, Colombia
, Ecuador
, Peru
, and Venezuela
at altitudes from 1.8—2.7 km
epiphyte
with slender, flattened stems, to 0.6 m tall. The stems are covered by tubular sheathes, which bear leaves on the upper part of the stem. The distichous linear-lanceolate leaves are often bilobulate at the apex. The cylindrical, racemose
,many-flowered inflorescence erupts from a solitary spathe (sometimes twin spathes) at the apex of the stem, as is typical of the subgenus E. subg. Spathium
The lanceolate-acuminate sepals are wedge shaped at the base: the dorsal 7–12 mm long by as little as 2 mm wide; the laeral sepals slightly larger and asymmetrical at the base. The linear petals are much shorter than the petals. The trilobulate lip
is adnate
to the column
to its apex: cordate at the base, with minute crenulations on the lateral lobes, two calosities at the base, and three or more shallow keels running down the midlobe from near the column apex.
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
native to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
at altitudes from 1.8—2.7 km
Description
Epidendrum alpicolum is a sympodialSympodial
Sympodial means "with conjoined feet", and in biology is often used to refer to the outward morphology or mode of growth of organisms.-In botany:...
epiphyte
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...
with slender, flattened stems, to 0.6 m tall. The stems are covered by tubular sheathes, which bear leaves on the upper part of the stem. The distichous linear-lanceolate leaves are often bilobulate at the apex. The cylindrical, racemose
Raceme
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...
,many-flowered inflorescence erupts from a solitary spathe (sometimes twin spathes) at the apex of the stem, as is typical of the subgenus E. subg. Spathium
Epidendrum subg. Spathium
John Lindley published Epidendrum subg. Spathium of the Orchidaceae. According to Lindley's diagnosis,, the E. subg. Spathium is recognizable by is sympodial habit with individual stems being slender and covered by the bases of the distichous leaves, by the lip of the flower being...
The lanceolate-acuminate sepals are wedge shaped at the base: the dorsal 7–12 mm long by as little as 2 mm wide; the laeral sepals slightly larger and asymmetrical at the base. The linear petals are much shorter than the petals. The trilobulate lip
Labellum
Labellum 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
Adnation
Adnation in plants is the "union of unlike parts; organically united or fused with another dissimilar part, e.g. an ovary to a calyx tube, or stamens to petals". This is in contrast to connation, the fusion of similar organs....
to the column
Column (botany)
The column, or technically the gynostemium, is a reproductive structure that can be found in several plant families: Aristolochiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Stylidiaceae....
to its apex: cordate at the base, with minute crenulations on the lateral lobes, two calosities at the base, and three or more shallow keels running down the midlobe from near the column apex.