Kingdom Plantae Family Orchidaceae Tribe Epidendreae Scientific name Epidendrum serpens | Order Asparagales Subfamily Epidendroideae Subtribe Laeliinae Rank Species | |
Similar Epidendrum calanthum, Epidendrum peperomia, Epidendrum nocturnum, Epidendrum secundum, Epidendrum radicans | ||
Epidendrum serpens is a sympodial pseudobulbous orchid that grows among lichens on trees near the tree line at altitudes of 1.6-3.5 km in Peru and Ecuador, including the states of Azuay and Pichincha.
Description
The flattened oblong cylindrical pseudobulbs grow to 2 cm long and bear one or two to three leaves. The short, terminal, racemose inflorescence bears three to seven rather large flowers, up to 2 cm across, colored deep violet (Reichenbach) to wine-red (Dodson & Dodson). The lip is heart-shaped where it diverges from the apex of the column, is bolobate at the apex, bears a low keel down the middle, and is slightly fringed on the edge.
References
Epidendrum serpens Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA