Epidendrum piperinum Lindl. 1845 GROUP Piperinum

LCDP Photo by © Carlos Uribe V and Icones Orchidacearum 18(1) plate 1831 2020

Drawing

Drawing by © Dodson & Bermeo and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbario Website

EARLY

Common Name The Peperomia-Like Epidendrum [refers to the likeness to a plant of the genus Peperomia Ruiz & Pavon]

Flower Size .24” [6 mm]

Found in Cauca department of Colombia and northern Ecuador in upper montane cloud forests at elevations of 2650 to 3200 meters as a miniature sized, cold growing, pendent epiphyte with a primary stem 3.6 to 15.2" [9 to 38 cm, secondary branches 1 to 1.8" [2.5 to 4.5 cm], cane-like, sub-terete, straight; the branches produced from middle to sub-apical internodes, from within the sheaths of the leaves; new branches progressively shorter and producing new branches from the sub-apical internode, eventually producing a scandent pendent herb carrying 9 or more on the main stem, 2 to 4 on the branches, coriaceous, somewhat fleshy, articulate, alternate, partly spreading from the stem, the basal ones eventually falling, oblong to oblong-elliptic, obtuse, minutely carinate at the apex, margin entire, slightly revolute when dry leaves that blooms in the spring through early summer on a terminal, without a spathe, sessile, .56" [1.4 cm]long overall, erect, strongly zig-zag, peduncle .08" [2 mm] long, subterete, arching outwards, provided with a baal bract similar to the floral bracts, rachis .16 to .28" [4 to 7 mm] long, zig-zag, successively single, generally 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence with widely ovate, acute, embracing, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying non-resupinate, greenish yellow flowers.

Epidendrum piperinum belongs to the GROUP Piperinum which is recognized by the monopodial, short, branching habit, the filiform petals, and the entire, ecallose lip. The species is recognized by its pendent habit, the leaves .28 to .64" x .12 to .24" [.7 to 1.6 x 0.3 to 0.6 cm], oblong to oblong-elliptic, 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence, sub-sessile and zigzag, flowers successive, non-resupinate, greenish yellow, the sepals .296 to .372" [7.4 to 9.3 mm] long, dorsal sepal spreading to somewhat reflexed, the lateral sepals partly spreading and obliquely united to the column, the petals parallel, and the lip triangular, base widely cordate, apex obtuse. Epidendrum troxalis Luer has a repent habit, leaves 2-3 x 0.5-0.8 cm, elliptic, inflorescence single flowered, flowers yellowish purple, petals pink, sepals 21 mm long, dorsal reflexed, lateral sepals fused and adnate to the column, petals partly spreading, and a lip sub-orbicular, concave and embracing the apex of the column. Epidendrum neudeckeri Dodson & Hágsater has erect plants to 40" [100 cm] tall, leaves 1 to 3.6" x 3.6 to 8" [2.5 to 9.0 x 0.9-20 cm], elliptic, flowers yellowish green, column white, 9 to 16 per raceme, sepals .42 to .56" [10.5 to 13 mm] long, 5-veined, and a lip triangular-ovate when spread, canaliculate in natural position, the sides embracing the column." Hagsater etal 2020

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 7: 250 Schlechter 1920; Icones Plantarum Tropicarum Plate 481 Dodson 1989 drawing fide; Native Ecuadorian Orchids vol 2 Dodson 2001 drawing fide; Orquideas, Tesoro de Colombia Vol 2 Ortiz & Uribe 2017 drawing fide; Icones Orchidacearum 13 Plate 1360 Hagsater & Santiago 2010 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 18(1) plate 1831 Hagsater, Pfahl & Cisneros 2020 LCDP/photos/Drawing fide; Icones Orchidacearum 18(1) plate 1842 Hagsater & Santiago 2020 see recognition section

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