Epidendrum coronatum Ruiz & Pav. 1798 Photo courtesy of Patricia Harding

Flower Closeup Photo courtesy of Carlos Hajek

Common Name The Crown-Like Epidendrum?

Flower Size 1 3/4" [4 cm]

This is a large sized, hot growing, caespitose epiphytic or lithophytic reedstem species that is found on trunks and branches of trees and occasionally on rocky slopes from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil at elevations of 100 to 1500 meters with erect, unbranched, lightly fractiflex stems with the lower portion having 4 to 5, tubular, scarious sheaths and the upper portion having articulated, elliptic to oblong-elliptic leaves that has a terminal, arching to pendant, 1 3/4' [4 cm] long, densely many flowered, racemose inflorescence with 2 to 3 close bracts arising on a mature cane occuring in the winter and spring.

Synonyms Epidendrum amazonicum Schltr. 1925; Epidendrum benignum Ames 1923; Epidendrum compositum Vell. 1860; Epidendrum moyobambae Kraenzl. 1905; Epidendrum subpatens Schltr. 1922; Epidendrum sulphuroleucum Barb. Rodr. 1877

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Venezuelan Orchids Vol 3 Dunsterville & Garay 1965; Fieldiana Biology, Vol 33, 1st Supple. to the Orchids of Peru Scweinfurth 1970; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 43 Bennett & Christenson 1993; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 5 COS 1994; Orchids of Bolivia Vol 2 Laelinae Vasquez and Ibisch 2004; Vanishing Beauty; Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 1 Pupulin 2005

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