Epidendrum parkinsonianum Hooker 1840 Photo by Jay Pfahl
Common Name Parkinson's Epidendrum [English Consul in Mexico and Orchid Enthusiast 1800's]
Flower Size to more than 6" [to more than 15 cm]
This large, pendant growing, epiphytic and sometimes lithophytic, species is found in Mexico and southern Central America in oak-pine forests at elevations of 1300 to 2300 meters and has a pendulous habit, with cylindrical, curved 3" [7.5 cm] pseudobulbs with a single apical, pendulous, fleshy, narrowly lanceolate, folded leaf. The apical, 2" [5 cm] long, racemose inflorescence arises from within the base of the folded leaf with 1 to 3 large, longlasting, simultaneously opening, fragrant [citrus] flowers arising from a newly forming pseudobulb and may occur at various times of the year.
Synonyms Brassavola pescatorii hort. ex Rchb. f. 1892; Epidendrum aliofolium Bateman not L. 1840; Epidendrum falcatum Lindley var zeledoniae Schlechter 1923; Epidendrum lactiflorum A. Rich. & Gal. 1845
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
The Orchids of Panama L.O. Williams & P Allen 1946; AOS Bulletin Vol 31 No 3 1962; AOS Bulletin Vol 31 No 7 1962 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 33 No 3 1964 photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 12 No 3/4 1977/8 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 49 No 5 1979 as Epidendrum parkinsonianum; AOS Bulletin Vol 56 No 3 1987 photo; Selbyana Vol 10 Orchids of Central America Hamer 1988 drawing fide; Orchid Digest Vol 60 No 1 1996 photo fide; Guatemala Y Sus Orquideas Behar & Tinschert 1998 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 69 No 4 2000 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 7 2004 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 74 No 3 2005 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 76 No 1 2007 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 76 NO 8 2007 photo fide; Orchids of Costa Rica Vol 1 Morales 2009 as Epidendrum parkinsonianum photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 82 #3 2016; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #5 2016 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 # 7 2017 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 83 #3 2019 photo fide;
~Epidendrum parkinsonianum Hkr. var. falcatum (Lindl.) Ames, F.T. Hubb. & C. Schweinf. 1935
Differs from the typical form in it's markedly smaller flowers and wider later lobes of the lip.
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