Epidendrum azulense D.E.Benn. & Christenson 1998 GROUP Secundum SUBGROUP Secundum
LCDP Photo by E. Hágsater & A. Cisneros and The AMO Herbario Website
TYPE Drawing by © D.E.Benn. & Christenson
LATER
Common Name The Cordillera Azul Epidendrum [A mountain range in Peru]
Flower Size .8" [2 cm]
Found in the department of Huanuco Peru on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes, along the geological fault of Angaiza and Paucartambo, from Rioja and neighboring Amazonas to northern Huánuco, bordering the Parque Cordillera de La Escalera and the Nacional Cordillera Azul, at elevations of 1075 to 1450 meters as a medium to large sized, cool growing terrestrial with simple, cane-like, terete to slightly compressed towards the apex, terete, leafy towards the apex stems arising from median internodes of the previous stem and carrying 3 to 5, distichous, distributed along the upper 2/3 of the stem, linear-lanceolate, apex acute to obtuse, articulate, coriaceous, smooth, green, margins entire leaves that blooms in the later spring on a terminal, without a spathe, sometimes laterally branching, peduncle to 4" [10 cm] long, rachis to .76" [1.9 cm] long, 4.84" [12.4 cm] long overall, laxly, successively 3 to about 5 flowered inflorescence with much shorter than the ovary, decreasing in size, triangular, acuminate, embracing, minute floral bracts and carrying non-resupinate, deep violet, column pink, callus white, slightly tinged with pale yellow at the base; flowers turn red when pollinated or aging; fragrance none.
"Epidendrum azulensis belongs to the 1998 GROUP Secundum SUBGROUP Secundum, which is characterized by the caespitose habit, erect, simple, cane-like stems, a normally elongate peduncle of the inflorescence, an erect raceme of generally non-resupinate, showy, colorful flowers, and a lip adorned by a complex a callus. The species is recognized by the small plants, narrow linear-lanceolate leaves 1.6 to 2.4" x .16 to .6" [4.0 to 6.0 x 0.4 to 1.5 cm], flowers dark pink to deep violet, column pink, callus white slightly tinged with pale yellow at the base, the lanceolate, acute petals, .248 x .08" [6.2 x 2.0 mm], and the lateral lobes of the lip sub-ovate with margin laciniate. Epidendrum sholletiae Hágsater, L.Valenz. & J.Duarte , has 9.2 to 10" [21 to 25 cm] tall plants including the inflorescence, red flowers with an orange callus, sepals .352 to .4" [8.8 to 10.0 mm] long, petals narrowly elliptic, a lip with sub-quadrate to sub-flabellate lateral lobes, the margin irregularly laciniate, the lacinia short at base and progressively longer, the mid-lobe very short, obtrapezoid, and a large callus. Epidendrum rauhii Hágsater also has small plants, flowers white with a yellow callus, becoming yellowish when pollinated or aging, and petals obovate. NOTE: There is some variation in the shape of the lip and callus in the specimens here mentioned; the extreme forms apparently that of the type and the color plate here reproduced. Color of the flowers of this group changes and turns towards red after pollination or as flowers wilt, as can be seen from the photograph; this leads to mistaken notes on labels, which makes interpretation of color notes difficult. The Schistochilum Group has been studied extensively in Brazil (Assis et al., 2013), as well as in Ecuador (Vega et al., 2013) through chromosome microphotography and evidence of natural hybridization has been shown. There is a possibility that there may be some hybrid influence in Epidendrum azulensis which would explain the variation of the populations." Hagsater etal 2020
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 452 Bennett & Christenson 1998 drawing fide; LANKESTERIANA 14(1) 2014 Icones Orchidacearum 17(2) Plate 1758 Hagsater & Jimenez 2020 LCDP/Photo fide; Icones Orchidacearum 17(2) Plate 1797 Hagsater & Jimenez 2020 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 18(2) Plate 1864 Hagsater & Jimenez 2021 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 18(2) Plate 1884 Hagsater & Jimenez 2021 see recognition section
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