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Epidendrum

(Genus)

Overview

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Epidendrum (),[1] abbreviated Epi in the horticultural trade,[2] is a large neotropical genus of the orchid family. With more than 1,100 species, some authors describe it as a mega-genus. The genus name (from Greek ?p?, epi and d??d???, dendron, "upon trees") refers to its epiphytic growth habit.

When Carolus Linnaeus named this genus in 1763, he included in this genus all the epiphytic orchids known to him. Although few of these orchids are still included in the genus Epidendrum, some species of Epidendrum are nevertheless not epiphytic.

Distribution and ecology

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They are native to the tropics and subtropical regions of the American continents, from South Carolina to Argentina. Their habitat can be is epiphytic, terrestrial (such as E.& #160;fulgens), or even lithophytic (growing on bare rock, such as E. calanthm and E. saxatile). Many are grow in the Andes, at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m. Their habitats include humid jungles, dry tropical forests, sunny grassy slopes, cool cloud forests, and sandy barrier islands.

Members of this genus can be very aggressive colonizers of disturbed habitat, and many species which were once rare in this genus have become more common as the result of human activities. For example, some of these plants can be found in greater abundance growing terrestrially along road cuts throughout their native ranges as the result of road construction. [3][4]

Many of these species are relatively easy to grow in rich humus compost with some sand. The plants resemble Dendrobiums in form and habit typically, although they tend to be terrestrial rather than lithophytic and epiphytic, and do better in a humus rich, well aerated substrate.[5][6]

Most of the high altitude members of this genus from cloud forests defy cultivation outside their habitat, and it is reported that even moving a plant from one location to another on the same host tree in habitat will result in the death of the plant, possibly due to dependency on a specific mychorhizzial fungal symbiot.[7][8]

Characteristics

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They are quite varied in flower size and appearance. They grow in tufts, in racemose inflorescences, sometimes in corymbs or panicles. The apical, lateral or basal flowers are mostly small to medium in size and f requently are not marked by a conspicuous display. The inflorescences are frequently dense. Many species are fragrant. The flowers may be produced only once, or during several years from the same or new inflorescences. The ellipsoid fruits are 3-ribbed capsules.

This genus has the following characteristics :

Synonymy

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Epidendrum radicans in the wild.
Epidendrum sp. in the wild.

Initially, European taxonomists applied the generic epithet Epidendrum to all newly discovered epiphytic orchids. Gradually, many of these "Epidendrums" were recognized as being quite di verse and deserving of different generic epithets -- many belong to different tribes or subtribes (e.g. Vanda). To add to the confusion, however, many descriptions of closely related species were published with different generic epithets.

As if the confusion caused by these publications were not great enough, many closely related genera (or perhaps subgenera, sections, or subsections) have been recognized and published. According to the modern rules of taxonomy, each new proposed genus that is split off from Epidendrum must bear the name of the oldest generic epithet published for a member of the new genus. Hence, many genera which have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum have later been segregated out again. Because most of these decisions rest on the informed opinions of authorities, the segregated taxa are often then re-published as synonyms. Hence, some of the following information may seem a bit contradictory, especially if the assertion that two names are "synonyms" is misconstrued as an assertion that the two names mean exactly the same thing.

The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum:

Genera which have been erected (or resurrected) from Epidendrum include the following examples:

Species

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Epidendrum sensu latu is a huge genus, embracing more than 2,000 binomials (about 1,100 accepted names and the rest have become synonyms of other species). More than 1,000 have been split off into new or resurrected genera. However, it is estimated that there are more than 2,000 Epidendrum orchids, many of which still have to be discovered. More than 400 new species have lately been described by Eric H?gsater and colleagues (see: Reference).

Several botanists have been honored with an Epidendrum orchid named after them, i ncluding the following:

Hybrids

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Only a few natural hybrids have been named, such as Epidendrum ? doroteae, Epidendrum ? gransabanense and Epidendrum ? purpureum.
Epidendrum orchids hybridize readily with members of the genus Cattleya (Epicattleya is the accepted nothogenus for such a hybrid) and other related genera such as Brassavola (producing a Brassoepidendrum). There are also multi-generic hybrids, for example, Adamara is the nothogenus for hybrids containing ancestor species from each of the genera Brassavola, Cattleya, Epidendrum, and Laelia, but no others. (For several decades, the nothogeneric epithet Yamadara was commonly used to mean Adamara.)

Culture

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The flowers of many Epidendrum species are small, but some such as E. ibaguense are showy, and many are widely cultivated, such as E. cinnabarinum, E. ibaguense, E. nocturnum, E. radicans, E. secundum, and a multitude of hybrids of these species.

Most Epidendrum species require cool or intermediate to warm conditions for culture, and the commonly cultivated species, such as E. radicans grow in typically cool conditions. Some, such as E. magnoliae (syn. E. conopseum) can even tolerate extended freezing conditions. In Auckland and other sub-tropical regions of New Zealand, the cool growing plants will flower all year round. While they are normally grown in pots, it is also possible to grow them in a bark garden or on a tree, although the plants prefer a humus rich well-aerated media.[9]

See also

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List of Epidendrum species

ed habitat, and many species which were once rare in this genus have become more common as the result of human activities. For example, some of these plants can be found in greater abundance growing terrestrially along road cuts throughout their native ranges as the result of road construction. [3][4]

Many of these species are relatively easy to grow in rich humus compost with some sand. The plants resemble Dendrobiums in form and habit typically, although they tend to be terrestrial rather than lithophytic and epiphytic, and do better in a humus rich, well aerated substrate.[5][6]

Most of the high altitude members of this genus from cloud forests defy cultivation outside their habitat, and it is reported that even moving a plant from one location to another on the same host tree in habitat will result in the death of the plant, possibly due to dependency on a specific mychorhizzial fungal symbiot.[7][8]

Characteristics

[ Back to top ]

They are quite varied in flower size and appearance. They grow in tufts, in racemose inflorescences, sometimes in corymbs or panicles. The apical, lateral or basal flowers are mostly small to medium in size and frequently are not marked by a conspicuous display. The inflorescences are frequently dense. Many species are fragrant. The flowers may be produced only once, or during several years from the same or new inflorescences. The ellipsoid fruits are 3-ribbed capsules.

This genus has the following characteristics :

Synonymy

[ Back to top ]
Epidendrum radicans in the wild.
Epidendrum sp. in the wild.

Initially, European taxonomists applied the generic epithet Epidendrum to all newly discovered epiphytic orchids. Gradually, many of these "Epidendrums" were recognized as being quite diverse and deserving of different generic epithets -- many belong to different tribes or subtribes (e.g. Vanda). To add to the confusion, however, many descriptions of closely related species were published with different generic epithets.

As if the confusion caused by these publications were not great enough, many closely related genera (or perhaps subgenera, sections, or subsections) have been recognized and published. According to the modern rules of taxonomy, each new proposed genus that is split off from Epidendrum must bear the name of the oldest generic epithet published for a member of the new genus. Hence, many genera which have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum have later been segregated out again. Because most of these decisions rest on the informed opinions of authorities, the segregated taxa are often then re-published as synonyms. Hence, some of the following information may seem a bit contradictory, especially if the assertion that two names are "synonyms" is misconstrued as an assertion that the two names mean exactly the same thing.

The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum:

Genera which have been erected (or resurrected) from Epidendrum include the following examples:

Species

[ Back to top ]

Epidendrum sensu latu is a huge genus, embracing more than 2,000 binomials (about 1,100 accepted names and the rest have become synonyms of other species). More than 1,000 have been split off into new or resurrected genera. However, it is estimated that there are more than 2,000 Epidendrum orchids, many of which still have to be discovered. More than 400 new species have lately been described by Eric H?gsater and colleagues (see: Reference).

Several botanists have been honored with an Epidendrum orchid named after them, including the following:

Hybrids

[ Back to top ]

Only a few natural hybrids have been named, such as Epidendrum ? doroteae, Epidendrum ? gransabanense and Epidendrum ? purpureum.
Epidendrum orchids hybridize readily with members of the genus Cattleya (Epicattleya is the accepted nothogenus for such a hybrid) and other related genera such as Brassavola (producing a Brassoepidendrum). There are also multi-generic hybrids, for example, Adamara is the nothogenus for hybrids containing ancestor species from each of the genera Brassavola, Cattleya, Epidendrum, and Laelia, but no others. (For several decades, the nothogeneric epithet Yamadara was commonly used to mean Adamara.)

Culture

[ Back to top ]

The flowers of many Epidendrum species are small, but some such as E. ibaguense are showy, and many are widely cultivated, such as E. cinnabarinum, E. ibaguense, E. nocturnum, E. radicans, E. secundum, and a multitude of hybrids of these species.

Most Epidendrum species require cool or intermediate to warm conditions for culture, and the commonly cultivated species, such as E. radicans grow in typically cool conditions. Some, such as E. magnoliae (syn. E. conopseum) can even tolerate extended freezing conditions. In Auckland and other sub-tropical regions of New Zeal and, the cool growing plants will flower all year round. While they are normally grown in pots, it is also possible to grow them in a bark garden or on a tree, although the plants prefer a humus rich well-aerated media.[9]

See also

[ Back to top ]

List of Epidendrum species

References

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  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606?607
  2. ^ http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSWebsite/files/87/87be8b1e-908e-4e04-9ee6-30c438354458.pdf
  3. ^ The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dr essler. ISBN 0674875265
  4. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676
  5. ^ The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dressler. ISBN 0674875265
  6. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676
  7. ^ The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dressler. ISBN 0674875265
  8. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676
  9. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676
  1. Brieger, F. C. and Hunt, P. F. "HORMIDIUM, MAXILLARIA AND SCAPHYGLOTTIS (ORCH.)", Taxon 18(5) pp. 601-603 (Oct. 1969)
  2. Hagsater, E., Sanchez Saldana, L., and Garcia Cruz, J. (eds.) 1999. Icones Orchidacearum: fascicle 3. The genus Epidendrum: part 2. "A second century of new species in Epidendrum". Herbario AMO, Mexico D.F.
  3. Hagsater, E. 2001. Icones Orchidacearum: Fascicle 4. The Genus Epidendrum. Part 3, "A Third Century of New Species in Epidendrum". Asociacion Mexicana de Orquideologia A.C., Mexico, D.F.
  4. H?gsater, E. 2004. The genus Epidendrum. Part 4. A fourth century of new species in Epidendrum. Icon. Orchid. 7: pl. 701-800.
  5. Withner, C. A., Cattleyas and Their Relatives. Brassavola, Encyclia, and Other Genera of Mexaco and Central America (5) Timber Press, 1998
  6. Withner, C. A. and Harding, P. A., Cattleyas and Their Relatives. The Debatable Epidendrums Timber Press 2004.

Pictures

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External links

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Media related to Epidendrum at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Epidendrum at Wikispecies

Taxonomy

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The Genus Epidendrum is a member of the Alliance Epidendrum. Here is the complete "parentage" of Epidendrum:

The Genus Epidendrum is further organized into finer groupings including:

References

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  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606?607
  2. ^ http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSWebsite/files/87/87be8b1e-908e-4e04-9ee6-30c438354458.pdf
  3. ^ The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dressler. ISBN 0674875265
  4. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676
  5. ^ The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dressler. ISBN 0674875265
  6. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676
  7. ^ The Orchids, Natural History and Classification, Robert L. Dressler. ISBN 0674875265
  8. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676
  9. ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids ISBN 0881922676

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 14:43:04