Epidendrum vernixium Rchb.f. & Warsz. 1854 GROUP Andean SUBGROUP Vernixium TYPE for the group

Drawing by © Jimenez and The AMO Herbaria Website

Common Name The Varnished Epidendrum [refers to the leaves surface]

Flower Size .08" [2 mm]

Found in Peru without locality data most likely as a large sized terrestrial with cane-like, sub-apically branched, main stem not seen carrying moist likely numerous on the main stem, 9 on the branches, erect, articulate, distichous, coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, margin entire leaves that blooms on a terminal, occuring only once, racemose, without a spathe, peduncle very short, .44" [1.1 cm] long, erect, laxly simultaneously 20 flowered inflorescence with much shorter than the ovary, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, amplexicaul floral bracts and carrying non-resupinate, somewhat fleshy flowers without color or fragrance data.

"Epidendrum vernixium belongs to the GROUP Andean SUBGROUP Vernixium which is characterized by the monopodial, sub-apical branching habit, erect inflorescences, lax, non-resupinate flowers, and the 3 lobed lip. The species is recognized by the oblong-lanceolate leaves 1.2 to 1.4" [3 to 4 cm] long, the erect inflorescence with up to 20 flowers, linear-oblanceolate petals, apically rounded, .4" [10 mm] long, the lateral lobes of the lip falcate-reniform, and the midlobe trapezoid, minutely apiculate. Epidendrum scytocladium Schltr. is vegetatively very similar but the petals are linear-oblanceolate, and the midlobe of the lip transversely oblong. Epidendrum orgyale Lindl. has an entire lip, widely cordiform, the margin serrulate. Epidendrum cardioglossum Rchb.f. has an arching-nutant inflorescence, resupinate flowers, the ovary is not inflated, petals are oblanceolate, and the lateral lobes of the lip are hemi-elliptic, not falcate." Hagsater 2009

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Peru Vol 2 Schweinfurth 1959; Icones Orchidacearum 12 Plate 1214 Hagsater 2009 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 12 Plate 1219 Hagsater 2009 see recognition section; Icones Orchidacearum 12 Plate 1299 Hagsater & Santiago 2009 drawing fide; Orquideas, Tesoro de Colombia Vol 2 Ortiz & Uribe 2017 drawing hmm;

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