Epidendrum armeniacum
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. armeniacum
Binomial name
Epidendrum armeniacum
Synonyms

Epidendrum armeniacum (the "Apricot-coloured Epidendrum"[1]) is an epiphytic species of reed-stemmed Epidendrum orchid that grows wild in Bolivia (including Cochabamba and La Paz[2]), Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, at altitudes of 1–2 km.[3]

Description

As is typical of E. subg. Spathium, E. armeniacum exhibits a sympodial growth habit with the individual stems showing no tendency to swell into pseudobulbs, imbricating foliaceous sheathes covering the stem, an apical peduncle covered at its base by enlarged foliaceous spathes, and a lip adnate to the column to its apex. The closely spaced, slightly flattened stems bear distichous, narrow, lanceolate, slightly folded, leathery leaves which are darker above than below and pointed at the tip, up to 14 cm long by 1.6 cm wide. The drooping racemose inflorescence bears many small (4–5 mm across) apricot-colored flowers,[4] subtended by maroon, 5 mm long bracts. The ovate-acute sepals are 3 mm long, as are the filiform petals, which are slightly dilated distally. The fleshy, hood-shaped lip has erect, rounded lateral lobes and a pointed midlobe, up to 4 mm long. The stout column is up to 2 mm long.

Derivation

The specific epithet, "armeniacum," of this Neotropical plant does not refer to Armenia, but to the apricot (Prunus armeniaca), which was named from the belief that it was native to Armenia. The color of the E. armeniacum flowers is similar to the color of the fruit of P. armeniaca.

References

  1. ↑ Edwards's botanical register, or ornamental flower garden and shrubbery. Ridgway. 1836.
  2. ↑ C. Dodson & R. Vásquez "EPIDENDRUM ARMENIACUM Lindl" Plate 0217 of Icones Plantarum Tropicarum, Series II: Orchids of Bolivia, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, 1989
  3. ↑ Schweinfurth "Orchids of Peru" Fieldiana: Botany 30(1960)410-411
  4. ↑ H. G. Reichenbach "Orchides" item 193 in C. Müller, Ed. Walpers. Annales Botanices Systematicae 6(1861)367. Berlin.
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