Epidendrum brevivenium

Epidendrum brevivenium is a species of Epidendrum Orchid native to Peru and the provinces of Pichincha, Napo, and Tungurahua in Ecuador at altitudes of 2.8 to 3.4 km.

Epidendrum brevivenium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Epidendrum
Subgenus: Epidendrum subg. Spathium
Species:
E. brevivenium
Binomial name
Epidendrum brevivenium

Description edit

The branched stems of this sympodial orchid climb on trees or rock cliffs, and produce roots from the nodes, similar to E. radicans. The stems are covered with sheaths, the bases of the distichous, oblong-obtuse leaves. The terminal inflorescence arises from an obtuse spathe and has a short peduncle clothed in distichous, imbricating sheathes below the raceme of light green flowers, 1–2 cm across. The sepals have three veins which do not reach the apex (hence brevivenium); the linear petals have only one.[1] The lateral lobes of the trilobate lip appear to have deep, ragged cuts; the middle lobe divides into three parts at the apex.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ H. G. Reichenbach "Orchides" in C. Müller, Ed. Walpers Annales Botanices Systematicae, 6(1861) pp.  363—364. Berlin.
  2. ^ C. H. Dodson and P. M. Dodson, Icones Plantarum Tropicarum Series II: Orchids of Ecuador Plate 464, "EPIDENDRUM BREVIVENIUM Lindl." Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, 1989