Epidendrum anceps
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum anceps, the "two-edged Epidendrum," a species of epiphytic
orchid in the genus Epidendrum
, is sometimes known as the Brown Epidendrum or Dingy-flowered Epidendrum.
growth habit, producing closely spaced reed-like stems up to 5 dm tall (10 dm, according to Correll and Schweinfurth) which are flattened laterally (hence, anceps) and covered by imbricating sheathes which bear leaves on the upper part of the stem. The wide tan-green coriaceous sessile linear-elliptic distichous leaves grow up to 22 cm long by 43 mm wide. The terminal inflorescence is a raceme at the end of a long peduncle
covered from its base by close, imbricating sheathes; sometimes additional racemes will arise from the nodes of the peduncle. The flowers typically contain significant amounts of chlorophyll and yellow pigment—these are often accompanied by enough purple pigment to give the flower a dingy, brown color. The oblong-ovate dorsal sepal can grow as long as 10 mm; the lateral sepals are often wider than the dorsal. The petals are linear. The adnate
lip
is heart- or kidney-shaped where it diverges from the column, is sufficiently three-lobed to be placed in the section E. sect. Schistochila
, and has a slight keel on the middle lobe, which is notched at the apex, sometimes with a little point.
Jacq. due to an early publication claiming synonymy between these two very different taxa.
In October, 2009, Kew listed "Epidendrum galeottianum A.Rich. & Galeotti, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., III, 3: 21 (1845)" as a synonym of E. anceps. Reichenbach thought that E. galleottianum was a separate species, and placed it in a different section, E. sect. Holochila
; he also seems to have cited the authority differently: "Richard and Galeotti, Orch. Mex. p. 21". The original publication of E. galeottianum placed it in E. subg. Amphiglottium
and made no reference to whether or not the lip was lobed; Reichenbach (1861) included no more information than Richard & Galeotti
. Some continue to maintain that E. galleottianum and E. anceps are separate species.
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...
orchid in the genus Epidendrum
Epidendrum
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 refers to its epiphytic growth habit...
, is sometimes known as the Brown Epidendrum or Dingy-flowered Epidendrum.
Description
E. anceps exhibits 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:...
growth habit, producing closely spaced reed-like stems up to 5 dm tall (10 dm, according to Correll and Schweinfurth) which are flattened laterally (hence, anceps) and covered by imbricating sheathes which bear leaves on the upper part of the stem. The wide tan-green coriaceous sessile linear-elliptic distichous leaves grow up to 22 cm long by 43 mm wide. The terminal inflorescence is a raceme at the end of a long peduncle
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
covered from its base by close, imbricating sheathes; sometimes additional racemes will arise from the nodes of the peduncle. The flowers typically contain significant amounts of chlorophyll and yellow pigment—these are often accompanied by enough purple pigment to give the flower a dingy, brown color. The oblong-ovate dorsal sepal can grow as long as 10 mm; the lateral sepals are often wider than the dorsal. The petals are linear. The 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....
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 heart- or kidney-shaped where it diverges from the column, is sufficiently three-lobed to be placed in the section E. sect. Schistochila
Epidendrum sect. Schistochila
Epidendrum sect. Schistochila Rchb.f. is a section of the subgenus E. subg. Amphiglottium Lindl. of the Genus Epidendrum of the Orchidaceae...
, and has a slight keel on the middle lobe, which is notched at the apex, sometimes with a little point.
Taxonomic confusion
This taxon has frequently been confused with E. secundumEpidendrum 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...
Jacq. due to an early publication claiming synonymy between these two very different taxa.
In October, 2009, Kew listed "Epidendrum galeottianum A.Rich. & Galeotti, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., III, 3: 21 (1845)" as a synonym of E. anceps. Reichenbach thought that E. galleottianum was a separate species, and placed it in a different section, E. sect. Holochila
Epidendrum sect. Holochila
Epidendrum sect.Holochila Rchb.f. 1861 is a section of subgenus Epidendrum subg.Amphiglottium of the Orchidaceae. It differs from section E. sect. Polycladia by bearing inflorescences that are racemes, not panicles. It differs from section...
; he also seems to have cited the authority differently: "Richard and Galeotti, Orch. Mex. p. 21". The original publication of E. galeottianum placed it in E. subg. Amphiglottium
Epidendrum subg. Amphiglottium
Epidendrum subg. Amphiglottium Lindl. 1841 is a subgenus of reed-stemmed Epidendrums, distinguished by an apical inflorescence with the peduncle covered from its base with close imbricating sheaths and by a lip that is adnate to the column to its apex.Reichenbach published three sections in this...
and made no reference to whether or not the lip was lobed; Reichenbach (1861) included no more information than Richard & Galeotti
Galeotti
Galeotti is a surname, and may refer to;* Bethany Joy Galeotti , American singer and actress* Cesare Galeotti , Italian composer and pianist* Henri Guillaume Galeotti , Belgian botanist...
. Some continue to maintain that E. galleottianum and E. anceps are separate species.