Epidendrum dolichoporpax Hágsater 2018 GROUP Porpax
Photo/TYPE drawing by R. Jiménez M. © courtesy of Eric Hagsater and Icones Orchidacearum 16(1): t. 1615 Hagsater etal 2018
Common Name The E Porpax Epidendrum [refers to the similarity of this species to Epidendrum porpax, but with the 3 ribs on the disc elongate, reaching the middle of the lip, instead of being very short]
Flower Size .8" [2 cm]
Found in Colombia without locality and northern Ecuador on the westgern slope of the Andes at elevtions of 1400 to 2000 meters as a cool growing, caespitose, sympodial epiphyte with cane-like, simple, laterally compressed, somewhat reclining stems carrying 4 to 7, distichous, spreading, fleshy-coriaceous, articulate, pale green to reddish, sheath tubular, blade narrowly lanceolate, semi-terete, acute, margin entire, slightly involute leaves that blooms in the late spring and early fall on a terminal, very short, sessile, single-flowered inflorescence with shorter than the ovary, triangular floral bracts and carrying a resupinate flower.
"Epidendrum dolichoporpax belongs to the GROUP Porpax, which is characterized by the sympodial, somewhat repent habit, usually forming large mats, short, cane-like stems with very fleshy, succulent, articulate, distichous leaves, single-flowered inflorescence, sessile flowers, and the lip generally reddish purple. The species is recognized by the short stems with ovate, acute leaves, flat, the petals linear, acute, with the margin minutely erose, lip orbicular, cordate and the three ribs of the lip long, reaching the middle of the blade, about equal in length. Epidendrum mathewsii has small, compact plants with erect stems, an orbicular-sub-quadrate lip with the apex obtuse, and linear, acute petals. Epidendrum porpax has somewhat larger plants with somewhat reclining stems, the green flowers with a lustrous, convex, reddish purple lip proportionately wider than long, the apex rounded, sepals .34 to .56" x .16 to .2 [8.5 to 14 x 4 to 5 mm], elliptic-lanceolate. It has been often confused with Epidendrum peperomia Rchb.f. which is vegetatively similar but the lip of that species is orbicular, cordate, spreading, as wide as it is long, with the apex obtuse; and known from Venezuela and bordering Colombia. Epidendrum lambeauanum De Wild. has larger, prostrate, descending plants, the stems with 4 to 6 lanceolate leaves .68 to 1.52" [17 to 38 mm] long, the flowers are cream colored with the lip reddish purple, and the petals linear-oblanceolate. The flowers of all these species are very similar, and best recognized by the vegetative habit. Epidendrum microporpax Hágsater has smaller leaves .4 to .64 x .16 to .2" [1.0 to 1.6 x .35 to .50 cm] on a relatively elongate erect stem, the flowers yellowish green with the center of the lip pale winered, sepals small .252 x .146" [6.3 x 3.6 mm], ovate, and the lip flat, with the mid-rib very short, barely surpassing the calli. Epidendrum althaniorum Hágsater & Collantes, from southern Peru (Cusco) and neighboring Bolivia, is distinguished by the linear-triangular, acuminate petals, and the heartshaped wine red blotch on the lip." Hagsater etal 2018
Synonyms
ReferencesW3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Icones Orchidacearum 16(1): t. 1615 Hagsater etal 2018 drawing/photo fide; Icones Orchidacearum 16[1] Plate 1633 Hagsater & Santiago 2018 See recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 16[1] Plate 1640 Hagsater & Sanchez 2018 drawing/photo fide;
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