Epidendrum longipetalum A. Rich. & Galeotti 1845 Photo courtesy of © Diederick Antoni Copyright ©

Side View Of Flower Photo courtesy of Weyman Bussey.

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Common Name The Long-Petaled Epidendrum

Flower Size 3/4" wide [2 cm] but the petals continue to elongate as the flower matures and can reach 1 3/4" to 2" [4 to 5 cm]

This is a Mexican miniature, cool growing epiphytic and sometimes lithophytic species from the NW Gulf coast mountains where it occurs in cloud and oak forests at elevations of 1700 to 2200 meters with short, gradually widening stems envelopd by tubular, scarious sheaths and carrying 2 to 3 apical, elliptic to ovate, basally clasping leaves and flowers throughout the year on a terminal, long-pedunculate, 18" [50 to 75 cm] long, erect to arcuate, racemose inflorescence arising on mature or maturing psuedobulbs in the late winter subtended by many elliptic bracts with one to two successive flowers that open one at a time. The old spikes can rebloom in future seasons so be sure to leave them until you are sure that they are dead.

Synonyms Epidendrum antenniferum Lindley & Paxton 1851

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum I Plate 34 Hagsater and Salazar 1990;

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