Epidendrum cupreum F.Lehm. & Kraenzl. 1899 GROUP Megalospathum SUBGROUP Cupreum Type for the subgroup

Photo by © The AOS Species Identification Task Force Website

Common Name The Copper Epidendrum [Refers to the color of the lip]

Flower Size .88" [2.2 cm]

Found in southernmost Colombia and Ecuador at elevations of 1500 to 1900 meters as a cool growing epiphyte

"Epidendrum cupreum F.C.Lehm. & Kraenzl. belongs to the GROUP Megalospathum SUBGROUP Cupreum, recognized by the wide, single, semiovate spathe, the erect stems with 3 to 5 coriaceous leaves, and resupinate flowers; the ventral surface of the column with a cavity accessed through a long narrow slit. The species is distributed along the eastern slope of the Andes from southern Colombia to southern Ecuador and has smaller flowers than the preceding species, the sepals .4" [10 mm] long, and the lip ecallose. The following species have been generally confused with E cupreum. Epidendrum orbiculatum has a sub-orbicular lip, somewhat wider than long, the margin entire. Epidendrum kymatochilum Hágsater & Dodson from the border between Ecuador and Peru is recognized by the cuneate, flabellate, lip, with a pair of incipient, basal hemi-circular lobes, their margin undulate." Hagsater etal 2010

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum 3 Plate 343 Hagsater 1999 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 7 Plate 750 Hagsater and Sanchez 2004 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 13 Plate 1301 Hagsater 2010 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 13 Plate 1364 Hagsater & Dodson 2010 See Recognition section; Orquideologia 29: 1 Hagsater & Medina 2012 photo fide; Orquideas, Tesoro de Colombia Vol 2 Ortiz & Uribe 2017 as E aff cupreum Photo Fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #2 2016 photo fide; Orquideas, Tesoro de Colombia Vol 2 Ortiz & Uribe 2017 Photo good;

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