Epidendrum macrogastrium Kraenzl. 1905 GROUP Saxicola

TYPE Drawing by Kraenzlin

Common Name The Large Bellied Epidendrum

Flower Size

Found in Cajamarca province ofPeru at elevations of 2700 to 2900 meters as a small to medium sized, cold growing terrestrial with sterms enveloped by 2 loose, pale sheaths and carrying 1 to 2, subcoriaceous, lanceolate to oblong, subacute leaves, that blooms on a congested, more or less subumbellate, few flowered inflorescence.

I await a proper drawing from Eric Hagsater, should be available soon.

"Epidendrum macrogastrium Kraenzl. belongs to the GROUP Saxicola characterized by the pseudobulbous stems, caespitose or scandent habit, the surface of the vegetative structures often rugose, the prominent spathaceous bract apically rounded, few flowered, erect inflorescence, the flowers purple or yellow. The species is recognized by the smaller, yellow flowers sepals .48" [12 mm] long, petals .4 x .04 to .048" [10 x 1.0 to 1.2 mm], linear, and lip widely cordiform. Epidendrum magnisaxicola has larger flowers, sepals .96 to 1" [24 to 25 mm] long, pale greenish yellow, the sepals tinged brown, oblanceolate petals 1" x .1" [25 x 4 mm], lip .54 x .44" [13.5 x 11 mm], entire, ovate-rhombic, base truncate, revolute in natural position. It is similar to Epidendrum saxicola which has slightly larger, purple flowers with a white lip, tinged purple, sepals .6" [15 mm] long, petals .52 x .1" [13 x 2.5 mm], lip sub-orbicular to obscurely pentagonal. Epidendrum harmsianum Kraenzl. has sulfur-yellow, larger flowers, sepals .64" [16 mm] long, lip transversely ovate-oblong, base sub-cordate." adapted from Plate 1735 Hagsater etal 2019

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Peru Vol 2 Fieldiana Schweinfurth 1959; * Icones Orchidacearum 17(1) Plate 1735 Hagsater & Jimenez 2019 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 17(2) Plate 1796 Hagsater & Jimenez 2020 see recognition section;

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