Epidendrum L.

First published in Sp. Pl., ed. 2.: 1347 (1763), nom. cons.
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & Subtropical America.

Descriptions

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
Plants epiphytic, on rocks, or rarely terrestrial, extremely diverse in size, erect, pendent, or creeping and with or without a conspicuous rhizome
Morphology Stem
Stems either thickened into a ‘pseudobulb’ bearing leaves only at the apex, or cane-like, slender and more or less leafy, simple or branched
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 1–numerous, conduplicate, terete or flattened, varing in outline from linear to oval-Inflorescence usually terminal (rarely lateral from leafy stem), 1-flowered, racemose, subumbellate or diffusely paniculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers variously colored, frequently green, usually fragrant, minute to rather large; perianth segments spreading; petals usually much narrower than the sepals; lip more or less adnate to the column, simple or lobed, smooth to warty or callose, often conspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column straight to arching, swollen toward apex, wingless, winged or auricled, short to elongate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther terminal, operculate, incumbent, 2-celled; pollinia 4 or rarely 2, waxy, equal, more or less flattened
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma entire; rostellum longitudinally slit or perpendicular to axis of column
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule usually ellipsoid.
Distribution
As here defined this is one of the largest genera of neotropical orchids, with about 800 species.
[Cayman]

Sources

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0