Epidendrum involutum Hágsater & E.Santiago GROUP Alpicolum SUBGROUP Pergracile

TYPE Drawing by © Eric Hagsater & Santiago and The AMO Herbario Website

Common Name or Meaning The Inward Turning Epidendrum

Flower Size .8" [2 cm]

Found in southern Ecuador at elevations around 3100 meters as a medium sized, cold growing epiphyte with simple, cane-like, short, thin, the basal half terete, the apical half laterally compressed, erect, straight stems, carrying 5 on the apical half of the stems, articulate, alternate, unequal in size (the basal one smaller), linear-lanceolate, apex obtuse, with a low dorsal keel, margin entire leaves that blooms in the winter on a terminal, racemose, arching, 7.2 to 8.4" [18 to 21 cm] long including the 3.6 to 4.4" [9 to 11 cm] long, elongate, laterally compressed, ancipitose, thin, straight, covered by the spathaceous bracts, peduncle successively several, 10 to 18 flowered inflorescence with nearly as long as the ovary, the apical bracts gradually smaller, narrowly triangular, acuminate, amplexicaul floral bracts.

" Epidendrum involutum belongs to the GROUP Alpicolum SUBGROUP Pergracile characterized by the caespitose habit, racemose inflorescence with narrow, parallel-sided spathaceous bracts, and flowers with a wide, rounded mid-lobe, and a large fleshy disc. The species is recognized by the linear-lanceolate leaves, the dark reddish green flowers, the peduncle of the inflorescence covered by 4 spathaceous bracts, linear, reflexed petals, and the lip truncate at the base, the lateral lobes quadrate to obliquely ovate, the callus sub-orbicular, fleshy. Epidendrum cyclotylosum Hágsater has oblong-elliptic leaves, reddish brown flowers, the peduncle of the inflorescence covered by 2 spathaceous bracts, the base of the lip cordate and the lateral lobes dolabriform, the mid-lobe semi-orbicular. Epidendrum rhodoides Hágsater & Dodson has oblong-lanceolate leaves, flowers tinged with pink, the lip yellow, the peduncle covered by 2 spathaceous bracts, petals spreading, narrowly obovate, the lip bicallose, and the lateral lobes dolabriform with the margin minutely erose." Hagsater etal 2013

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Icones Orchidacearum 14 Plate 1444 Hagsater & Santiago 2013 drawing fide;

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