Epidendrum bidens D.E.Benn. & Christenson 2001 GROUP Anceps SUBGROUP Anceps

TYPE Drawing by © Bennett & Christenson and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria

LATE

Common Name or Meaning The Two Toothed Epidendrum [refers to the 2 toothed apex of the labellum midlobe]

Flower Size .6" [1.5 cm]

Found in Huanuco department of Peru in montane wet forests at elevations around 1000 meters as a medium sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with cane-like, slightly swollen below, terete above, erect stems carrying, in the upper 1/2 of the stem, 5 to 8, alternate, articulate, oblong, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, basally clasping leaves that blooms in the late spring and summer on a terminal, racemose then branching, erect, 9 to 14" [23.5 to 35 cm] long including the 8 to 12" [20 to 30 cm] long peduncle, congested, 15 to 20 flowered inflorescence concealed below by distichous, imbricating, conduplicate, triangular-tipped green bracts and acuminate, deltoid, acute, conduplicate, ancipitous floral bracts and carrying flowers with moderate yellow-green sepals the petals strong yellow green, a very pale white tinted cream yellow lip and a distally similar column with turning pale green below and has a dark green base and the anther is cream yellow.

Epidendrum bidens is part of GROUP Anceps SUBGROUP Anceps characterized by the simple stems giving rise to a generally elongate, compound racemose inflorescence producing new successive racemes over time and carrying fleshy flowers with filiform to narrowly spatulate petals. This species is similar to E anceps but differs in the distinctly acute apices of the labellum midlobe, the very different colored, yellow-green flowers usually with sparse suffusion of garnet colored, dotted flowers with white lips and a much looser flowered rachis.

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 634 Bennett & Christenson 2001 drawing fide; LANKESTERIANA 14(1) 2014

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