Epidendrum amplum D.E.Benn. & Christenson 1998

Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt.

LATE

Common Name The Extensive Inflorescence Epidendrum [refers to the massive inflorescence with the branches all held in a single plane]

Flower Size .6" [1.5 cm]

Found in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia in wet montane forests on steep brush covered slopes at elevations of 1100 to 2000 meters as a giant sized, warm to cool growing terrestrial reedstem orchid with erect, terete cane-like stems enveloped by persistent leaf bearing sheaths and carrying many coriaceous, lanceolate, acute-acuminate, basally clasping leqves that as the plant matures are held more towards the apex and blooms inthe late winter and spring on a terminal, paniculate, many branched, each branch 10"+ {25 cm+] and held in a single plane, many flowered inflorescence carrying pink flowers.

The flower in the photo according to Christenson is or is close to E amplum.

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum plate 447 Christenson & Bennett 1998; Orchids of Bolivia Vol 2 Laelinae Vasquez and Ibisch 2004

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