Epidendrum tridens
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum tridens is a terrestrial orchid
closely allied to E. nocturnum
, of which it has often been considered a variety or synonym. For example, Reichenbach 1861 lists Epidendrum tridens (Poepp. & Endl.) Cogn. (1898) as a synonym of Epidendrum nocturnum and Epidendrum nocturnum var. latifolium Lindl. (1837) as a distinguishable variety of Epidendrum nocturnum.
Lindl. (1842), and as such, displays a sympodial
growth habit featuring reed-like stems covered by distichous tubular sheathes, leaf-bearing above, and produces an apical inflorescence which has neither sheath nor spathe at its base. The stems grow approximately 30 cm tall. The length of the leaves is less than twice the width (hence the varietal name "latifolia"), up to 12 cm long and 8 cm wide. The pedicellate ovary of the solitary flower is 6—10 cm long. The narrow pointed sepals and petals are lightly colored, described variously as white, yellow, and green, with a tinge of crimson, and approximately 7 cm long. The deeply trilobate lip
is adnate to the column
to its apex and bears a small yellow callus just past the column apex. The central lobe of the lip is linear-lanceolate, nearly 3 cm long by less than 3 mm wide. The lateral lobes of the lip, as illustrated by Dodson & Vásquez 1989, are roughly triangular, connected to the central lobe at one point. The IOSPE photo shows them as semi-ovate wings completely connected to the central lobe.
E. tridens is distributed widely in the Neotropics.
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,...
closely allied to E. nocturnum
Epidendrum nocturnum
Epidendrum nocturnum is the type species of the genus Epidendrum of the Orchidaceae .The species occurs in Florida, Bahamas, West Indies, Central America to northern Brazil and the Guyanas...
, of which it has often been considered a variety or synonym. For example, Reichenbach 1861 lists Epidendrum tridens (Poepp. & Endl.) Cogn. (1898) as a synonym of Epidendrum nocturnum and Epidendrum nocturnum var. latifolium Lindl. (1837) as a distinguishable variety of Epidendrum nocturnum.
Description
Epidendrum tridens belongs to the subgenus E. subg. EpidendrumEpidendrum subg. Epidendrum
The subgenus Epidendrum subg. Epidendrum was published as "Euepidendrum" in 1841 with the diagnosis "Caulis foliosus. Pedunculus brevis esquamatus...
Lindl. (1842), and as such, displays a sympodial
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:...
growth habit featuring reed-like stems covered by distichous tubular sheathes, leaf-bearing above, and produces an apical inflorescence which has neither sheath nor spathe at its base. The stems grow approximately 30 cm tall. The length of the leaves is less than twice the width (hence the varietal name "latifolia"), up to 12 cm long and 8 cm wide. The pedicellate ovary of the solitary flower is 6—10 cm long. The narrow pointed sepals and petals are lightly colored, described variously as white, yellow, and green, with a tinge of crimson, and approximately 7 cm long. The deeply 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 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 and bears a small yellow callus just past the column apex. The central lobe of the lip is linear-lanceolate, nearly 3 cm long by less than 3 mm wide. The lateral lobes of the lip, as illustrated by Dodson & Vásquez 1989, are roughly triangular, connected to the central lobe at one point. The IOSPE photo shows them as semi-ovate wings completely connected to the central lobe.
E. tridens is distributed widely in the Neotropics.