Epidendrum ypsilum Hágsater & E.Santiago 2006 GROUP Andean SUBGROUP Soratae

TYPE Drawing by © Jimenez & Lopez and The AMO Herbaria Website

EARLY

Common Name The Tall Epidendrum

Flower Size .6" [1.5 cm]

Found in northern Peru on the Amazon slope of the Andes at elevations of 2900 to 3150 meters as a giant sized, cold growing terrestrial or epiphyte with terete, cane-like, principal elongate, profusely sub-apically branching, branches branching, branches short, erect, straight stems carrying numerous, about 27 on the principal stem, 3 to 10 on the branches, all along the upper half of the stem, alternate, articulate, directed upwards, coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, rounded to acute apically, low dorsal keel, margin denticulate towards the apex leaves that blooms in the early winter on a terminal, without a spathe, racemose, occuring only once, sub-erect, peduncle .32 to .44" [8 to 11 mm] long, terete, thin, bractless, 1.2 to 1.8" [3 to 4.5 cm] long overall simultaneously 14 to 20 flowered inflorescence with shorter than the ovary, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, clasping floral bracts and carrying non-resupinate, yellow flowers speckled with maroon without fragrance data.

"Epidendrum ypsilum belongs to the GROUP Andean SUBGROUP Soratae which is characterized by the branching habit starting on a primary stem, infundibulitorm, rugose leaf-sheaths, lanceolate, aristate, acute leaves, racemose inflorescence on a short, thin peduncle, and the bicallose lip, The new species resembles Epidendrum physopus Kraenzl. but the plants of that species are very small, short, linear-lanceolate leaves, .48 to 1.12" [1.2 to 2.8 cm] long, brownish green, resupinate flowers, the sepals dorsally with red-violet dots, petals filiform and the 3-lobed lip rounded at the apex. Epidendrum chrysomyristicum Hágsater & E.Santiago has vegetatively similar plants, yellow, resupinate flowers occasionally tinged reddish, sepals .4 to .5" [10 to 12.5 mm] long petals linear-Ianceolate, acute and the 3-lobed lip and the midfobe "T" shaped. Epidendrum fruticulum has elliptic, rounded leaves, yellow, resupinate flowers, sepals .24 to .36" [6 to 9 mm] long, linear-oblanceolate, rounded petals, and the lip 3- lobed, wlth the midlobe rectangular, slightly widened towards the apex, entire. Epidendrum stenostachyum Hágsater & E. Santiago has a racemose, narrow, cylindrical inflorescence with greenish yellow, resupinate flowers with purple dots, sepals .28 to .328" [7.0 to 7.7 mm] long, and the lip entire, widely ovate-triangular." Hagsater etal 2006

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Icones Orchidacearum 8 Plate 900 Hagsater & Santiago 2006 drawing fide;

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