Epidendrum nocturnum Jacq.
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Authority
Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.
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Family
Orchidaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Highly variable epiphytes with erect stems 10-50 cm. Leaves several, oblong-ovate, obliquely emarginate, coriaceous, 1 1 X 4 cm. Inflorescences successive, multiple, terminal, congested racemes visible above apical leaf, one flower open at a time, to 0.9 cm. Flowers white with yellow callus, sometimes with variable purple suffusion, fragrant at night; sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate to subulate, recurved at margin, to 6.5 X 0.8 cm; petals linear, acute, curved forward, to 6.5 X 0.5 cm; lip 3-lobed, the lateral lobes falcate to elliptic, obtuse, separated from the midlobe by deep sinuses, the midlobe linear, acute, to 4.5 X 0.3 cm. Fr (Sep).
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Discussion
The name E. nocturnum has been consistently misapplied to a group of closely related species, including E. carpophorum Barbosa Rodrigues, also found in Saul. Even so, the species shows great phenotypic plasticity due to variations in micro-habitat
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