Epidendrum rubioi Hágsater & Dodson 1993 GROUP Elleanthoides SUBGROUP Guacamayense

TYPE Drawing by R Jimenez and The AMO Herbaria Website

Common Name Rubio's Epidendrum [Mexican Botanical Collector and co-collector of species current]

Flower Size 1.2" [3 cm]

Found in northernmost Ecuador on roadbanks at elevations around 3200 meters as a medium sized, cold growing terrestrial with cane-like, straight, terete, sparsely branching near the apex of the stem when mature, branches shorter than the main stem carrying numerous, all along the stems, narrowly lanceolate, acute, margins entire leaves that blooms in the summer on a terminal, without a spathe, on both the main stem and the branches, occurring only once, nutant, racemose, peduncle thin, bractless, rachis zigzag, successively single, 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence with triangular, acuminate, acute, amplexicaul at the base, divergent form the rachis floral bracts and carrying resupinate, lime green flowers.

"Epidendrum rubioi is recognized by the scandent, branching stems with grass-like, narrow leaves with the margins erose-dentate, the apical nutant raceme with 2 to 3 successive, lemon green, odorless flowers, and the lip completely embracing the column and ending in an abruptly apex. It is closely related to E. guacamayense Hágsater & Dodson, but distinguished by the short racemose inflorescence and the suborbicular, not reniform lip. These species belong to the GROUP Elleanthoides SUBGROUP Guacamayense." Hagsater etal 1993

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Icones Orchidacearum 2 Plate 184 Hagsater & Dodson 1993drawing fide; Icones Orchidacearum 4 Plate 423 Hagsater 2001 see recognition section;

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