Epidendrum chioneoides Carnevali & G.A.Romero in G.A.Romero & G.Carnevali 2000 GROUP Andean SUBGROUP Vernixium

TYPE Drawing by © Dunsterville & Garay

Common Name The E chioneum-Like Epidendrum

Flower Size 1.2” [3 cm]

Found in the Distrito Federal of Venezuela in dense forests at elevations around 2100 to 2300 meters as a large sized, cold growing epiphyte sometimes terrestrial with cane-like, terete, erect to drooping, compressed, subapically branching stems, carrying shiny, dark green above, dull green beneath, elliptic-lanceolate, acute leaves that blooms on a terminal, drooping to pendent, shortly pedunculate, to 2" [5 cm] long overall, 5 to 6 flowered inflorescence carrying glabrous, green, strongly recurved, resupinate flowers.

Epidendrum chioneoides Carnevali & G.A.Romero belongs to the GROUP Andean SUBGROUP Vernixium which is characterized by the monopodial, sub-apical branching habit, erect, lax inflorescences, non-resupinate flowers, and the lip 3-lobed. The species is recognized by the green flowers, apparently concolor, sepals and petals of similar size, and the lip clearly 3-lobed, the lateral lobes dolabriform. Epidendrum decurviflorum has lanceolate, obtuse leaves, 1.2 to 2.2" x .4 to .48" [3 to 5.5 x 1.0 to 1.2 cm], yellow, concolor flowers or with purplish semicircle around the disc of the lip, sepals and petals unequal in size, the base of the lip somewhat cordate, the lateral lobes transversely rectangular. Epidendrum scytocladium Schltr. is vegetatively very similar, but the flowers are greenish yellow with the apex of the column tinged purplish, sepals and petals similar in size, and the base of the lip deeply cordate, the lateral lobes sub-falcate, and the midlobe with the apical margin somewhat involute." Adapted from Plate 1237 Hagsater etal 2009

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Venezuelan Orchids Illustrated Vol 1 Dunsterville & Garay 1959 as E moyandae not = E chioneoides; Flora of Venezuela Vol 15 Parte 3 Foldats 1970 drawing not = E chinioides; Orchids of Venezuela, an Illustrated Field Guide Vol 2 Dunsterville & Garay 1979 as E moyandae drawing fide; Orchids of Venezuela, an Illustrated Field Guide Vol 2 Second Edition Romero & Carnevali 2000 drawing fide; *Orchids of Venezuela, an Illustrated Field Guide Vol 3 Second Edition Romero & Carnevali 2000 drawing fide; Icones Orchidacearum 12 Plate 1211 Hagsater 2009 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 12 Plate 1237 Hagsater 2009 see recognition section;

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