Epidendrum excisum

Epidendrum excisum is a species of orchid known to grow both epiphytically and terrestrially on steep rocky banks in mountainous regions of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It has been reported at altitudes from 2.4 km to 2.8 km.

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

Description

The flattened stems grow to 0.9 m tall[1] and are covered by the basal sheathes of the broad, oblong, leathery leaves.[2] The long base of the paniculate inflorescence erupts from two short, broad spathes at the apex of the stem. The yellow flowers have filiform to linear petals, and obovate sepals, the lateral sepals being scoop-shaped. The lateral lobes of the trilobate lip have a crenulate to erose margin, and give the lip (where it diverges from the column) a heart-shape. The central lobe is divided into three short rounded lobes at its end: the central one narrow and bent downward, the lateral ones slightly longer, pointing outward and bent upward.

Synonymy

E. excisum var. grandiflorum was recognized in Reichenbach, 1861, with generally larger flowers, and occasionally, with "great horizontal cucullate spathes." According to Kew, this variety is a synonym for the species.[3]

References
  1. C. H. & P. M. Dodson, "EPIDENDRUM EXCISUM Lindl.", plate 0468 of Icones Plantarum Tropicarum, Series II, Orchids of Ecuador Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. 1989.
  2. Reichenbach, H. G. "ORCHIDES" in C. Müller, Ed. Walpers Annales Botanices Systematicae Tomus VI Berlin. 1861. pp. 370-371, Nr. 209
  3. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=68376&repSynonym_id=-9998&name_id=333113&status=false

A photograph may be found at The Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia.

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