Epidendrum nocturnum
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum nocturnum (the "Nocturnal Epidendrum") is the type species
of the genus Epidendrum
of the Orchidaceae
(Orchid family).
The species occurs in Florida, Bahamas, West Indies, Central America to northern Brazil and the Guyana
s. Epidendrum nocturnum is common in South Florida.
It is usually autogamous (flowers self-pollinate) and sometimes cleistogamous (flowers self-pollinate before they open).
The haploid chromosome
number of E. nocturnum has been determined as n = 20. The diploid chromosome number has been determined both as 2n = 40 and as 2n = 80
In 1984, the variety E. nocturnum var. guadeloupense was determined to have a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 42—48. On November 7, 2010, Kew did not recognize the existence of this variety in its World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of 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...
of the Orchidaceae
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,...
(Orchid family).
The species occurs in Florida, Bahamas, West Indies, Central America to northern Brazil and the Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
s. Epidendrum nocturnum is common in South Florida.
It is usually autogamous (flowers self-pollinate) and sometimes cleistogamous (flowers self-pollinate before they open).
The haploid chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
number of E. nocturnum has been determined as n = 20. The diploid chromosome number has been determined both as 2n = 40 and as 2n = 80
In 1984, the variety E. nocturnum var. guadeloupense was determined to have a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 42—48. On November 7, 2010, Kew did not recognize the existence of this variety in its World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.