Epidendrum sculptum
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum sculptum is a sympodial
, epiphytic
reed-stemmed orchid
native to the Neotropics from Chiapas Mexico to Brazil, at altitudes ranging from near sea level to 0.5 km.
flowers are "surrounded at the base by 2, enlarged sheaths." Nevertheless, Reichenbach, who published the original description of the species, placed it in the subgenus "Euepidendrum" (now spelled E. subg. Epidendrum
), stating that the peduncle
emerges from the apex of the stem without any covering sheath or spathe. The small (1 cm long) almost cartilage-like light green flowers open only partially. The sepals are narrowly ovate, the petals narrowly elliptical. The carnose trilobate lip
is united to the column
to its apex, and bears a keel down the middle from the apex of the column to the midpoint of the lip. The sides of the lip curl upward.
Sympodial
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:...
, 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...
reed-stemmed orchid
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 the Neotropics from Chiapas Mexico to Brazil, at altitudes ranging from near sea level to 0.5 km.
Description
Epidendrum sculptum has hanging cane-like stems, covered in imbricating sheaths. On the part of the stem away from the roots, these sheaths bear alternate, oblong leaves, up to 5 cm long, which are two-lobed at the distal end. The inflorescence is so short that the three flowers appear to be sessile on the apex of the stem. According to Dodson & Dodson, 1989, the non-resupinateResupination
Resupination generally means being upside-down, supine, facing upward. The word is derived from the Latin. In a biological context, the concept is commonly expressed with the adjectives "resupinate" or "non-resupinate."-Examples in green plants:...
flowers are "surrounded at the base by 2, enlarged sheaths." Nevertheless, Reichenbach, who published the original description of the species, placed it in the subgenus "Euepidendrum" (now spelled E. subg. Epidendrum
Epidendrum subg. Epidendrum
The subgenus Epidendrum subg. Epidendrum was published as "Euepidendrum" in 1841 with the diagnosis "Caulis foliosus. Pedunculus brevis esquamatus...
), stating that the 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...
emerges from the apex of the stem without any covering sheath or spathe. The small (1 cm long) almost cartilage-like light green flowers open only partially. The sepals are narrowly ovate, the petals narrowly elliptical. The carnose trilobate 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 united 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, and bears a keel down the middle from the apex of the column to the midpoint of the lip. The sides of the lip curl upward.