Epidendrum tolimense Lindl. 1845 GROUP Elleanthoides SUBGROUP Rhombochilum

Photo by © Andres Posada and his Flickr Orchid Photo WebsiteWebsite

Drawing

Drawing by © Jimenez, Hágsater & E.Santiago and The AMO Herbario Website

Common Name The Tolima Epidendrum [A department of Colombia]

Flower Size 1.2" [3 cm]

Found in Costa Rica, Colombia and southern Ecuador in paramo at elevations around 2450 to 3400 meters as a small to medium sized, cold growing epiphyte and terrestrial with terete, very short branching in the upper half stems carrying numerous, all along the stem, smaller on the branches, ovate to narrowly lanceolate, acute, margin erose-denticulate leaves that blooms at most any time of the year on a terminal, from the mature stem and the branches, racemose, short, arching-nutant, .6 to .8" " [1.5 to 2 cm] long, more or less successive 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence with very triangular, acuminate, almost as long as the ovary floral bracts.

" Epidendrum tolimense belongs to the GROUP Elleanthoides SUBGROUP Rhombochilum recognized by the branching habit, small fleshy leaves and a short 3 to 4 flowered, nutant inflorescence on a short thick peduncle. The species is recognized by the tall overall size, the flowers yellow or yellow-green with 4 pollinia, .4 to .44" [10 to 11 mm] long sepals, apiculate, suborbicular to ovate-subcordate lip when spread, and the wide nectary. It is also the only species of this group in Central America. Epidendrum rhodanthum Hágsater & Dodson also has 4 pollinia, is somewhat smaller, sepals being .38" [8.5 mm] long, the flowers white and old rose colored, the lip is proportionately wider, and the nectary narrow. Epidendrum chrysanthum Hágsater & Dodson is smaller still, sepals being about .18" [4.5 mm] long, and only has 2 pollinia. Epidendrum rhombochilum L.O. Williams has .28 to .32" [7 to 8 mm] long sepals, also has two pollinia with a slit along one side. Most species in this group are found in Ecuador and neighboring areas of Colombia and Peru . Epidendrum guacamayense Hágsater & Dodson belongs to the SUBGROUP Guacamayense with branching inflorescences with long, hair-thin peduncles." Hagsater etal 2008

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7: 252 Schlechter 1920; LAnkesteriana 8: 41-43 Dressler & Pupulin 2003 drawing fide; Icones Orchidacearum 11 Plate 1187 Hagsater & Salazar 2008 Drawing fide; Icones Orchidacearum 12 Plate 1220 Hagsater 2009 see recognition section; Orquideas, Tesoro de Colombia Vol 2 Ortiz & Uribe 2017 photo good;

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