| Epidendrum smaragdinum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Epidendrum |
| Subgenus: | Epidendrumsubg. Amphiglottium |
| Section: | Epidendrum sect.Schistochila |
| Subsection: | Epidendrum subsect.Integra |
| Species: | E. smaragdinum |
| Binomial name | |
| Epidendrum smaragdinum | |
| Synonyms | |
Epidendrum kulnmanniiHoehne | |
Epidendrum smaragdinum is anepiphyticsympodial orchid native to the Neotropics. It has been found at 0.5 km above sea level inNapo,Ecuador[1] It is also known fromBrazil,French Guiana,Guyana,Peru,Suriname, andVenezuela.[2]
E. smaragdinum is a reed-stemmedEpidendrum which produces slender, cane-like stems which show no tendency to swell intopseudobulbs, and which are covered by tubular imbricating sheathes which, on the upper part of the stem, bear alternate leaves.E. smaragdinum stems grow as tall as 0.4 m, and the linear-lanceolate, often red-spotted leaves grow as long as 8 cm.As with other members ofE. subg. Amphiglottium, thepeduncle grows from the apex of the stem, and is covered with close, imbricating sheathes. Theracemose inflorescence bears only a few small bright green to white flowers at one time. The linear-oblong acute sepals are nearly 1 cm long; the lateral sepals are nearly half as wide as they are long. The petals are nearly liner, pointed at the end, and somewhat shorter than the sepals.
Thelip has a few red-brown spots and is adnate to thecolumn to its apex. Dodson & Dodson 1989 describes the lip as subreniform; Reichenbach 1861 as cordate.[3] As with other members ofE. sect. Schistochila, the lip bears two lateral lobes and an apical lobe; in the case ofE. smaragdinum, the apical lobe is divided in two, producing a roughly triangular lip with four points at its end. As with the other members ofE. subsect. Integra, the margin of the lip is neither lacerate nor fringed. The lip bears two tooth-like processes on either side of the column, and a central keel. The anther contains fourpollinia.
Dodson & Dodson 1989 list three synonyms forE. smaragdinum. Kew, however, acceptsE. pachyrachisAmes andE. alfrediiSchltr. as separate species.
