Epidendrum quitensium Rchb. f. 1862 GROUP Secundum SUBGROUP Elongatum
Photos by © Lourens Grobler
Common Name The Quito Epidendrum
Flower Size
Found in Ecuador at elevations of 1600 to 2800 meters as a cool to cold growing reed stem epiphyte.
"E. quitensium Rchb.f. belongs to the GROUP Secundum SUBGROUP Elongatum which is characterized by the caespitose habit, simple, terete stems numerous, oblong-elliptic, bilobed leaves, a mostly elongate inflorescence, with a raceme of successive, non-resupinate flowers, the lip with a complicated, fleshy callus. The species is recognized by the thick, brittle stems, and large, spreading leaves; the deeply cordate to retrorse lateral lobes of the lip and the large, 9- tuberculate callus covering part of the long narrow isthmus of the deeply bilobed, narrow mialobe. Epidendrum acroscopeum has stems with short, thick, suberect leaves and the magenta colored flowers with a massive callus, formed by two basal, 3-1obed tubercles, and an apical mass in the form of a wide, long platform terminating in a short keel. Epidendrum jamiesonis Rchb.f also has magenta- colored flowers and Hagsater puts this species as a synonym of E jamiesonis but Kew still has them as separate species. The flowers are somewhat similar to those of Epidendrum arachnoglossum Andre which grows around Bogotá, also has large, spreadlng leaves, deep rose-colored flowers with a massive yellow and white callus formed by numerous tubercules forming a wide circle." adapted from E acroscopeum Icones Plate 803 Hagsater etal 2006
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum 8 Plate 803 Hagsater & Sanchez 2006 see recognition section
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