Epidendrum marcocyphum Kraenzl. 1905 GROUP Secundum SUBGROUP Secundum

LCDP by © Hagsater & Cisneros and Icones Orchidacearum 18(1) plate 1819 2020

EARLY LATER

Common Name The Large Hunchback Epidendrum [refers to the long ribs on the lip]

Flower Size .8" [2 cm]

Found in Cajamarca department of Peru at elevations of 1850 to 2950 meters on grassy roadsides as a giant sized, cool to cold growing terrestro-epiphyte with simple, cane-like, terete to slightly compressed towards the apex, thin stems enveloped by foliar sheaths and carrying 8 to 12, distichous, along the upper 1/4 of the stem, oblong, apex unequally bilobed, articulate, coriaceous, smooth, green, margins entire leaves that blooms in the later spring through early winter on a racemose to pluriracemose, without a spathe, peduncle 26.4" [66 cm] long, elongate enveloped by numerous tubular, imbricating, scarious when dry, striated, papyraceous bracts, rachis, 1.6" [4 cm] long, laxly, successively 4 to 6, 10 to 20 flowered inflorescence with derceasing in size, triangular, acuminate, embracing, much shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying non-resupinate flowers.

"Epidendrum macrocyphum belongs to the GROUP Secundum SUBGROUP Secundum , which is characterized by the caespitose habit, erect, simple, cane-like stems, a normally elongate peduncle of the inflorescence, an erect raceme of generally nonresupinate, showy, colorful flowers, and a lip adorned by a complex a callus. The species is recognized by the pink to violet flowers with a complex but low white callus consisting of low, complex, formed by 3 to 5 straight, parallel ribs on the mid-lobe, the mid-rib longest nearly reaching the apical sinus, with two divergent bifid calli at the base of the lateral lobes, the longer segment projecting on the junction of the mid-lobe with the lateral lobes, the lip in natural position has the mid-lobe flat, extended, the lateral lobes erect, sometimes embracing the entire column, outer margins strongly revolute. It is similar to Epidendrum reflexilobum C.Schweinf., from Huánuco and Junín Departments of Peru , but flowers red with the callus yellow. In addition, there is another similar species in the Department of Ancash with a similar callus but the whole flower is pink-lilac including the callus; we have not been able to pin a name on that species yet." Hagsater & Santiago 2020

Synonyms Epidendrum tricarinatum Rolfe 1917

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Peru Vol 2 Schweinfurth 1959 as E tricarinatum; Fieldiana Biology, Vol 33, 1st Supple. to the Orchids of Peru Schweinfurth 1970 as E tricarinatum; Orquideas, Tesoro de Colombia Vol 2 Ortiz & Uribe 2017 as E tricarinata; Icones Orchidacearum 18(1) plate 1819 Hagsater & Santiago 2020 Photos fide

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