Epidendrum bryophilum Hágsater & Dodson 2001 GROUP Elleanthoides SUBGROUP Guacamayense

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

LATE EARLY

Common Name The Moss Loving Epidendrum

Flower Size .4" [1 cm]

Found in southern Ecuador on the western slopes of the Andes in upper montane forests at elevations around 2300 to 2600 meters as a small to medium sized, cold growing epiphyte with terete, branching near the apex, branches shorter than the main stems carrying many throughout the main stem and a few towards the apex on the branches, linear-lanceolate, acute, sinuous-dentate towards the apex, dorsally carinate leaves that blooms in the late winter and early spring [most likely throughout the year] on a terminal, on mature stems, over a long period, arching-nutant, .4 to 1.6" [1 to 4 cm] long including the short, filiform peduncle, rachis spirally zigzag, successively single to 16 flowered inflorescence with shorter to much longer than the ovary, triangular, acuminate floral bracts and carrying resupiante flowers.

This species was described from an herbarium specimen prepared by Lehman in the 1800's so the color and fragrance were not previously noted .

"Epidendrum bryophilum belongs to the GROUP Elleanthoides SUBGROUP Guacamayense , characterized by branching stems, verrucose sheaths, long, narrow, grassy leaves, and a filiform peduncle; the species is recognized by the very narrow leaves, racemose inflorescence, the lateral lobes of the lip embracing the column without overlapping and the wide nectary. Epidendrum guacamayense Hágsater & Dodson has wider leaves .64 to 2.4" [1.6 to 6.0 mm] the column deflexed at the base, a narrow nectary and the lateral lobes of the lip overlapping aboye the column. Epidendrum elleanthoides Schltr. has smaller flowers, slightly wider leaves, oblong-oblanceolate petals, the apical margin minutely dentate, and a pubescent lip that embraces the column without overlapping. Epidendrum rubioi Hágsater & Dodson has larger flowers with sepals .44" [11 mm], shorter, wider leaves 1.4 x .28" [to 35 x 7 mm], the lip laps over the column and is suborbicular and abruptly acute. Epidendrum insignificans Hágsater & Dodson has a sturdier habit overall, a nearly straight column which is partially exposed by the lip, linear-lanceolate petals, and a differently-shaped nectary; the inflorescence produces new racemes through the years, the peduncle being thin but not filiform. Epidendrum angustissimum has superficially similar habit and leaves, but the inflorescence with a short peduncle and simultaneous differently-shaped flowers distinguish it." Hagsater etal 2001

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Icones Orchidacearum 4 Plate 423 Dodson 2001 drawing fide; Icones Orchidacearum 7 Plate 740 Hagsater and Sanchez 2004 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 7 Plate 743 Hagsater and Sanchez 2004 see recognition section; Orquideas, Tesoro de Colombia Vol 2 Ortiz & Uribe 2017 photo good;

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