Epidendrum calyptratum F.Lehm. & Kraenzl. 1899 NO PHOTO GROUP Megalospathum SUBGROUP Vesicicaule

Common Name The ? Epidendrum

Flower Size

Found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru on the Amazon side of the Andes at elevations of 2500 to 2750 meters as a miniature to small sized, cold, pendent growing epiphyte with laterally flattened, thin, fleshy, arising from the basal to middle internode of the previous stem, and carrying 5 to 11, unequal, all along the stem, articulate, linear-lanceolate, oblique, acute leaves that blooms in the spring and summer on a terminal, arising on a mature stem, occuring only once, racemose, .56 to .8" [1.4 to 2 cm] long, simultaneously 4 to 9 flowered inflorescence arising through a solitary, conduplicate, narrowly semi-lanceolate, acuminate spathe with narrowly triangular, acuminate, shorter than the ovary floral bract and carrying green tinged with red flowers with a white anther.

This species is in a group of about 12 species that have often in the past been considered synomonous and are spread from Colombia to Bolivia. The separated species include E. cardiomorphum, Epidendrum calyptratoides Epidendrum calyptrectylosum; Epidendrum chaparense, Epidendrum falcivesicicaule, Epidendrum lagotis, Epidendrum pachyclinium, Epidendrum platypetalum and Epidendrum vesicicaule.

"Epidendrum calyptratum, is part of GROUP Megalospathum characterized by the caespitose but branching habit, many-leaved stem, fleshy, oblique leaves, a short, few flowered, raceme subtended by large semi-ovate spathaceous bracts, resupinate flowers, the column more or less united to the lip, and the SUBGROUP Vesicicaule , which has long, 3 to 8, narrow leaves, 8:1-20:1, and a simple lip. The species is recognized by the hanging plants, oblique linear-lanceolate leaves 14:1 (length:width), semi-lanceolate spathe with 4 to 9 flowered raceme, spreading sepals and petals, linear petals, and the ovary longer and thin, not inflated, the clinandrium widely cucullate, entire. Epidendrum calyptratoides though very similar, has hanging plants, oblique linear-lanceolate leaves 14:1 (length:width), semi-lanceolate spathe with 4 to 9 flowered raceme, ovary inflated forming a vesicle at the apical l/3, and 6-winged, the floral segments partly spreading; the lip elliptic, bicallose, and the oblong petals, the clinandrium somewhat surpassing the body of the column." Adapted from E calyptratoides Icones Plate 426 Hagsater 2001

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum 4 Plate 426 Hagsater & Sanchez 2001 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 14 Plate 1414 Hagsater & Santiago 2013 See recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 15 [2] Plate 1574 Hagsater & Sanchez 2016 see recognition section;

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