Epidendrum flexuosum G.Mey.

  • Family

    Orchidaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Epidendrum flexuosum G.Mey.

  • Description

    Author: Catherine V. Bainbridge

    Description: Epiphytic herbs, ca.1 m tall. Pseudobulbs lacking. Reed-like cylindrical stems, with a zig-zag growth form. Leaves distichous; blades linear-elliptic, 6-18 x 1.2-2.2 cm, succulent, the apex obtuse. Inflorescence apical, racemose, umbellate, with many congested, non-resupinate, rose-pink to magenta colored flowers, flowering successively (from the edge inwards) with the lip always positioned towards the center; ovary 3.6 cm long; peduncle elongate. Flowers: Dorsal sepal extended, elliptic-lanceolate, 16-19 x 5 mm, the apex apiculate; lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal but obliquely elliptic and the apex acuminate. Petals broadly elliptic, 15.5-17.5 x 6-7 mm, the apex acute. Lip weakly trilobed, triangular, adnate with column, ca. 10 x 8 mm; lateral lobes fimbriate, (midlobe less so); midlobe with prominent, horn-like, succulent callus, which releases a nectar-like liquid when broken, the apex apiculate. Column straight, winged (wings incurving, parallel, denticulate), ca. 1 cm long. Pollinia 4, arranged in pairs, boney but sectile, with elastic caudicles.

    Common names: Not recorded.

    Distribution: Mexico to Bolivia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil from sea level to 900 m.

    Ecology: Moist to wet forests. The specimen RA10864 was found growing on the branches of a tree, overhanging a stream, and the root mass was mixed with that of an individual of Coryanthes. Both were full of large, stinging ants. This kind of adaptation to ant symbiosis is broadly documented for Coryanthes spp. and according to Dressler (1981) also in E. baumannianum, to which E. flexuosum is closely related (see taxonomic notes below).

    Phenology: Flowers observed in Feb only.

    Pollination: According to Dressler (1981), the genus Epidendrum is largely pollinated by Lepidoptera, with a few species adapted to fly pollination and several that are adapted to hummingbird pollination. Given the brilliant purple coloration of the flowers of this species we might expect that Hummmingbirds are potential pollinators of E. flexuosum.

    Dispersal: Wind dispersed.

    Taxonomic notes: According to Hágsater et al. (2004), this species hybridizes with E. baumannianum. In appearance the structure of the flowers of E. flexuosum is similar to that of E. radicans and E. baumannianum, both of which are also documented from the Osa Peninsula.

    Conservation: CITES II.

    Uses: Not recorded.

    Etymology: Pressumably, the species epithet refers to the motile nature of the flowers resulting from their highly elongated peduncles.

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