Epidendrum polystachyum
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum polystachyum HBK (1816) is an epiphytic
orchid, which grows wild in seasonally dry forests on the western slopes of the Andes
in Ecuador
and Peru
(including Piura
) at altitudes near 2 km.
habit, producing fusiform pseudobulbs, each with several oblong obtuse conduplicate leaves. The terminal inflorescence is a many-branched panicle with few flowers on each branch (Reichenbach 1861 says "scapo polystachyo"). The sepals, petals, and lip
are peach colored: the dorsal sepal oblong to lanceolate, acuminate and reflexed; the lateral sepals oblique and reflexed; the petals lanceolate-spatulate. The trilobate lip is adnate to the column
to its apex: the lateral lobes irregularly obovate with erose to crenulate margins; the medial lobe smaller, deeply emarginate, divided in two at the apex, with a raised oblong yellow-green callus.
Lindl. (1831).
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, which grows wild in seasonally dry forests on the western slopes of 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...
in 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...
and 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....
(including Piura
Piura Region
Piura is a coastal region in northwestern Peru. The region's capital is Piura and its largest port cities, Paita and Talara, are also among the most important in Peru...
) at altitudes near 2 km.
Description
Epidendrum polystachyum has 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:...
habit, producing fusiform pseudobulbs, each with several oblong obtuse conduplicate leaves. The terminal inflorescence is a many-branched panicle with few flowers on each branch (Reichenbach 1861 says "scapo polystachyo"). The sepals, petals, and 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:...
are peach colored: the dorsal sepal oblong to lanceolate, acuminate and reflexed; the lateral sepals oblique and reflexed; the petals lanceolate-spatulate. The trilobate lip is adnate 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: the lateral lobes irregularly obovate with erose to crenulate margins; the medial lobe smaller, deeply emarginate, divided in two at the apex, with a raised oblong yellow-green callus.
Homonym
Epidendrum polystachyum Pav. ex Lindl. (1831) is a synonym for Epidendrum polyanthumEpidendrum polyanthum
Epidendrum polyanthum is a species of orchid in the genus Epidendrum....
Lindl. (1831).