| Epidendrum serpens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Epidendrum |
| Subgenus: | Epidendrum subg. Hormidium |
| Species: | E. serpens |
| Binomial name | |
| Epidendrum serpens Lindl. | |
Epidendrum serpens is a sympodial pseudobulbous orchid that grows among lichens on trees near the tree line at altitudes of 1.6-3.5 km in Peru and Ecuador, including the states of Azuay and Pichincha.
Description
The flattened oblong cylindrical pseudobulbs grow to 2 cm long and bear one or two to three leaves. The short, terminal, racemose inflorescence bears three to seven rather large flowers, up to 2 cm across, colored deep violet (Reichenbach) to wine-red (Dodson & Dodson). The lip is heart-shaped where it diverges from the apex of the column, is bolobate at the apex, bears a low keel down the middle, and is slightly fringed on the edge.
References
- CM Dodson & PM Dodson, Icones Plantarum Tropicarum, Series II, Orchids of Ecuador Plate 0487. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. 1989
- H. G. Reichenbach, "Orchides" in Carl Müller, Ed. Walpers Annales Botanices Systematicae VI(1861)346. Berlin.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Epidendrum serpens | |
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