Epidendrum bitriangulare Sierra-Ariza, J S Moreni and Hagsater 2021 GROUP Arbusculum SUBGROUP Incomptum

LCDP Photo by © J S Moreno and Icones Orchidacearum 18(2) Plate 1860 Hagsater & Jimenez 2021 and the AMO Herbaria Website

Common Name The 2 Triangle Epidendrum [reference to the apex of the mid-lobe of the lip which is formed by two opposite right-angle triangles of unequal sides, the base longer than the height, which distinguishes this species from other similar species.]

Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]

Found in Valle de Cauca department in southern Colombia from the Pacific slope of the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes in southern Colombia, in the basin of the Río Bravo in humid mountain forest, at elevations of 1200 to 1300 meters as a small to medium sized, cool growing epiphyte with a straight, terete, cane-like, brownish stems enveloped by nonfoliar sheaths and carrying 4, aggregate at the apex of the stem, articulate, alternate, sheath tubular, the lowest leaf smaller, spreading, oblong, acute, coriaceous, smooth, dark green, margin entire leaves that blooms in the fall on a terminal, arching pendent, cylindrical, 3.6" [9 cm] long, overall, densely to 25 flowered inflorescence with triangular, acute, embracing, less than half as long as the ovary floral bracts and carrying resupinate flowers.

"Epidendrum bitriangulare belongs to the GROUP Arbusculum SUBGROUP Incomptum, which is characterized by having erect successive lateral growths produced from the middle of the previous growth, few leaves aggregate towards the apex of the stems, a short apical inflorescence with fleshy green to violet-green flowers with short ovaries, and the lip entire to 3-lobed. The new species is recognized by the internally green flowers, sepals .6 to .64" [15 to 16 mm] long, petals .6 x .1" [15 x 2.5 mm], narrowly oblanceolate, and the 3-lobed lip, widely cordate at the base, with the lateral lobes sub-quadrate, slightly reflexed, and the small bilobed mid-lobe, .1 x .32" [2.5 x 8 mm], the lobes are two opposite rightangle triangles, the base wider than the side, the outer margins parallel. It is somewhat similar to Epidendrum amayense Hágsater which has smaller, greenish yellow flowers, sepals .36" [9 mm] long, a somewhat similar 3-lobed lip, lateral lobes orbicular, but the mid-lobe is formed by two semi-orbicular lobes, and the petals are narrowly oblong. Epidendrum aylacotoglossum Hágsater has yellow flowers, sepals ca. .44" [11 mm] long, petals .36 x .08" [9 x 2 mm], narrowly oblanceolate, apex rounded, and the lip with orbicular lateral lobes and the mid-lobe .08 x .272" [2 x 6.8 mm], bilobed, forming two semi-ovate, oblique, rounded lobes." Hagsater etal 2021

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Icones Orchidacearum 18(2) Plate 1860 Hagsater & Jimenez 2021 drawing/photo fide

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