Epidendrum - Revision history

Silparaja at 17:08, 21 September 2009

2009-09-21T17:08:09Z

Envoy at 06:05, 3 July 2007

2007-07-03T06:05:52Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Epidendrum''
| image = Epidendrum ciliare0.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Epidendrum ciliare]]''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Epidendroideae]]
| tribus = [[Epidendreae]]
| subtribus = [[Laeliinae]]
| alliance = Epidendrum
| genus = '''''Epidendrum'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]], 1763
| type_species = ''[[Epidendrum nocturnum]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin|Jacq.]], 1760
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = About 1,100 species - See [[List of Epidendrum species]].
}}

'''''Epidendrum''''' (commonly known as the '''star orchid''' or '''crucifix orchid'''), is a large neotropical [[genus]] of the [[orchid family]]. With more than 1,100 [[species]], some authors refer to it as a mega-genus. The genus name (from [[Greek language|Greek]], "growing on trees") refers to its [[epiphyte|epiphytic]] growth habit. When [[Carolus Linnaeus]] named this genus in 1763, he included in this genus all the epiphytic orchids known to him. However, few of these orchids are still included in the genus ''Epidendrum''.

==Distribution and ecology==
They are native to the [[tropics]] and [[subtropics|subtropical]] regions of the [[Americas|American continent]], from [[South Carolina]] to [[Argentina]]. Their habitat is mostly [[epiphyte|epiphytic]], a few are terrestrial or rarely growing on bare rock, such as ''[[Epidendrum calanthum]]'' and ''[[Epidendrum saxatile]]''. Most are to be found in the [[Andes]], at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 [[metre|m]]. Their habitat varies from humid jungles to dry tropical forests, from sunny grassy slopes to cool cloud forests.

==Characteristics==
They are very varied in flower size and appearance. They grow in tufts, in [[raceme|racemose]] inflorescences, sometimes in [[corymb]]s or [[panicle]]s. The apical, lateral or basal [[flower]]s are mostly small to medium in size and are not marked by a conspicuous display. They are borne on a dense [[inflorescence]]. Many species are fragrant. The flowers may be produced only once, or during several years from the same or new [[raceme]]s. The ellipsoid [[fruit]]s are 3-ribbed capsules.

This genus has the following characteristics :
* a slit rostellum (small extension or little beak to the median stigma lobe), giving a transparent or white thick and adhesive liquid.
* the fringed [[Labellum|lip]] is adnate to ( = united with) the column (forming a [[nectar|nectary]] tube (but rarely producing nactar), continuing through the [[pedicel]]).
* the pollinarium contains 4 pollinia (with sometimes 2 very reduced pollinia), rarely only 2 pollinia.
* the erect [[Plant stem|stems]] are reed-like, simple or branching, but can also contain [[pseudobulb]]s or thickened stems.

[[Image:Tziscao-TenamPuente 016.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''[[Epidendrum radicans]]'' in the wild.]]
[[Image:Tziscao-TenamPuente 075.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Epidendrum sp.'' in the wild.]]

==[[Synonymy]]==
The following genera have been brought into synonymy with ''Epidendrum'': '''''Amphiglottis''''' [[Richard Anthony Salisbury|Salisb.]], '''''Anacheilium''''' [[Hoffmanns.]], '''''Anocheile''''' [[Hoffmanns.]] ex [[Rchb.]], '''''Auliza''''' [[John Kunkel Small|Small]], '''''Coilostylis''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]], '''''Didothion''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]],, '''''Diothonea''''' [[John Lindley|Lindl.]], '''''Dothilophis''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]], '''''Doxosma''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]], '''''Epicladium''''' [[John Kunkel Small|Small]], '''''Epidanthus''''' [[L.O.Williams]], '''''Epidendropsis''''' [[Garay]] & [[Dunst.]], '''''Exophya''''' [[Constantine Samue
l Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]], '''''Hemiscleria''''' [[John Lindley|Lindl.]], '''''Kalopternix''''' [[Garay]] & [[Dunst.]], '''''Lanium''''' ([[John Lindley|Lindl.]]) [[George Bentham|Benth.]], '''''Larnandra''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]], '''''Microepidendrum''''' [[Brieger]] (nom. inval.), '''''Minicolumna''''' [[Brieger]] (nom. inval.), '''''Nanodes''''' [[John Lindley|Lindl.]], '''''Neolehmannia''''' [[Kraenzl.]], '''''Neowilliamsia''''' [[Garay]], '''''Nyctosma''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]], '''''Phadrosanthus''''' [[Neck.]] ex [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]], '''''Physinga''''' [[John Lindley|Lindl.]], '''''Pleuranthium''''' [[George Bentham|Benth.]], '''''Pseudepidendrum''''' [[Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach|Rchb.f.]], '''''Seraphyta''''' [[Friedrich Ernst Ludwig von Fischer|Fisch.]] & [[C.A.Mey.]], '''''Spathiger''''' [[John Kunkel Small|Small]], '''''Stenoglossum''''' [[Carl Sigismund Kunth|Kunth]], '''''Tritelandra''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]].

==Species==
This huge genus contains more than 2,000 names (about 1,100 accepted names and the rest have become synonyms of other species). More than 1,000 have been split off into new genera such as ''[[Barkeria]]'', ''[[Dimerandra]]'', ''[[Encyclia]]'', ''[[Oerstedella]]'', ''[[Psichylus]]'' and ''[[Nanodes]]''. 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 Hágsater and colleagues (see: Reference).

These botanists have been honored, along with several other ''Epidendrum'' researchers, with an ''Epidendrum'' orchid named after them:
* ''[[Epidendrum carnevalii]]'' Hágsater & L.Sánchez, (1999). (named after Carnevali)
* ''[[Epidendrum foldatsii]]'' Hágsater & Carnevali, (1993). (name after Foldats)
* ''[[Epidendrum garayi]]'' Løjtnant, (1977). (named after Garay)
* ''[[Epidendrum garciae]]'' Pabst, (1976). (named after Garcia-Cruz)
* ''[[Epidendrum hagsateri]]'' Christenson, (1995). (named after Hágsater)
* ''[[Epidendrum lueri]]'' Dodson & Hágsater, (1989). (was named after dr. Luer of the [[Missouri Botanical Gardens]], author of the series of monographs about the Pleurothallidinae orchids, the ''Icones Pleurothallidinarum'')

==Hybrids==
Only a few natural hybrids have been named, such as ''Epidendrum × doroteae'', ''Epidendrum × gransabanense'' and ''Epidendrum × purpureum''. ''Epidendrum'' hybrids readily with ''[[Cattleya]]'' (''[[Epicattleya]]'') and other related genera. It is not uncommon for one to come across multi-genera hybrids, for example, Yamadara (''[[Brassavola]]'' × ''[[Cattleya]]'' × ''Epidendrum'' × ''[[Laelia]]'').

==Culture==
Although the flowers of most ''Epidendrum'' species are rather small and not very showy, these orchids are nevertheless widely cultivated, such as ''[[Epidendrum secundum]]'', ''[[Epidendrum radicans]]'', ''[[Epidendrum ibaguense]]'' and ''[[Epidendrum cinnabarinum]]''.

Most ''Epidendrum'' species require intermediate to warm conditions for culture, although a few of the commonly cultivated species, such as ''Epidendrum radicans'' grow in cool 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.

==References==
* 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.
* Hagsater, E. 2001. Icones Orchidacearum: Fascicle 4. The Genus Epidendrum. Part 3, "A Third Century of New Species in Epidendrum". Asociacion Mexic
ana de Orquideologia A.C., Mexico, D.F.
* Hágsater, E. 2004. The genus Epidendrum. Part 4. A fourth century of new species in Epidendrum. Icon. Orchid. 7: pl. 701-800.

<gallery>
Image:Epidendrum apaganoides.jpg|''[[Epidendrum apaganoides]]''
Image:Epidendrum porpax.jpg|''[[Epidendrum porpax]]''
Image:Tziscao-TenamPuente 016.jpg|''[[Epidendrum radicans]]'' in the wild.
</gallery>

==External link==
* [http://www.orchidmall.com/general/epi_art.htm Reed-stem ''Epidendrum''s]

[[Category:Orchid genera]]

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 {{Taxobox
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 [[Category:Orchid genera]]