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Epidendrum (From epi upon and dendron)

(from epi, upon, and dendron, a tree; epiphytal on trees). Including Physinga. ORD. Orchideae. A large genus (about 300 species) of stove and greenhouse Orchids, comparatively few of which are worth cultivating, the great majority having small, dingy-coloured flowers. Dr. Lindley says the essential character of the genus resides in the lip being more or less united by a fleshy base to the edge of a column, which is hornless, and considerably elongated, but not petaloid, and winged; in the pollen masses being four, equal and compressed; and, in the presence of a passage, more or less deep, at the base of the lip. Most of the species are epiphytes, though some few succeed in pots, under the same treatment as recommended for Cattleya (which see), except that less heat is needed. Growers of orchids, according to Mr. Williams, have been more deceived in buying Epidendrums than in any other group of similar plants. The bulbs of many kinds are so nearly alike that it is very difficult to tell what they are before flowering. Sometimes they have to be grown several years before this occurs; and then frequently only dingy green flowers are produced, about the same colour as the leaves. Some of these insignificant flowers are, however, very fragrant, and will perfume the whole house in which they are grown. In the following enumeration, the most beautiful and approved sorts only are included.

E. alatum majus (large-winged).* fl. pale yellow, disposed in straggling panicles, and remaining nearly six weeks in beauty; lip striped with purple. June, July. Guatemala. Greenhouse. SYN. E. calochilum. (B. M. 3898.) E. aloifolium (Aloe-leaved). A synonym of E. falcatum. E. atropurpureum (dark-purple).* fl., sepals and petals dark rose or purple, the apices greenish, incurved; lip rose-coloured, with a dark blotch of crimson-purple in its centre. May, June. h. 6in. to 12in. Mexico, 1836. This species succeeds well either in a shallow pan or on a block, with sphagnum. Greenhouse. SYN. E. macrochilum (B. M. 3534). The variety roseum (F. d. S. 372) has the lip wholly of a dark rose colour.

E. aurantiacum (golden).* fl. bright orange, produced from a sheath at the top of the bulb, five to ten in a cluster; lip orange, striped with crimson. March to May. h. 1ft. Guatemala, 1836. A very handsome stove species. In habit and structure, it approaches Cattleya Skinneri. (R. G. 138.) E. bicameratum (two-arched). fl. ochre-coloured, with a deep brown disk; lip white, ochre-coloured at the base. Mexico, 1871. Greenhouse. E. bicornutum (two-horned).* fl. pure white, with a few crimson spots in the centre of the lip; spike produced from the tops of the pseudo-bulbs, sometimes twelve-flowered. Summer. Pseudo-bulbs stout, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, hollow in the centre, and producing short leathery leaves near the apex. Trinidad. This curious, but handsome stove species is sometimes found difficult to grow. It has, however, succeeded upon a bare block of wood, in a high temperature, fully exposed to the sun, and supplied with abundance of atmospheric moisture when making its growth. Occasionally, it grows and flowers well annually, treated in a precisely similar way to Cattleyas. (B. M. 3332.) This species, together with about three others, also formerly included under Epidendrum, now constitute the genus Diacrium, and the correct name of this plant is Diacrium bicornutum.

E. Brassavolae (Brassavola). fl. 4in. in diameter, on long, many-flowered spikes; sepals and petals rich yellowish-brown; lip large, ovate, straw-coloured at the base, with the apex purple, sweet-scented in the evening. Guatemala, 1867. Greenhouse. (B. M. 5664.) E. calochilum (beautiful-lipped). A synonym of E. alatum majus. E. Catillus (Catillus). fl. cinnabar-red, in clusters. Columbia, 1873. Greenhouse. (I. H. n. s. 162.) E. cinnabarinum (cinnabar-red). fl. orange-red, crowded at the top of a slender scape, 2in. across. May to July. h. 4ft. Brazil, 1837. Stove. (B. R. 1842, 25.) E. enemidophorum (sheathed).* fl. light yellow, spotted brown inside, pure white at back; lip white, shaded rose, deeply divided; spike terminal, about 1ft. long. l. about 8in. long, glossy, acuminated. h. 4ft. to 6ft. Guatemala, 1867. A stately greenhouse plant, with ample drooping racemes. (B. M. 5656.) E. Cooperianum (Cooper's). fl. brownish-yellow; lip broad, rosy-purple; racemes terminal, drooping. l. lanceolate, acute. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Brazil, 1867. Stove. (B. M. 5654.) E. crassifolium (thick-leaved). A synonym of E. ellipticum. E. criniferum (hairy-lipped). fl. yellowish-green, with cinnamon blotches and bars; lip white, hairy. Costa Rica, 1871. Greenhouse. (B. M. 6094.) E. dichromum (two-coloured).* fl. light rose-coloured, about 2in. in diameter, produced in large panicles, 2ft. to 3ft. high; lip three-lobed, rich crimson; pseudo-bulbs short and stout, supporting two or three dark green leathery leaves, from 6in. to 12in. or more in length. Pernambuco, 1865. Greenhouse. The variety striatum is a very handsome one, having sepals and petals white, with radiating deep purple lines.

E. eburneum (ivory). fl., sepals and petals yellowish-green; lip very large, ivory-white, with yellow callosities; raceme terminal, four to six-flowered. l. alternate, large, deep green. h. 2ft. Panama, 1867. Greenhouse. (B. M. 5643.) E. ellipticum (elliptic). fl. rose-coloured. March to June. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Brazil. Greenhouse. SYN. E. crassifolium. (B. M. 3543.) E. erubescens (blushing). fl. produced in large panicles; sepals and petals of a delicate mauve colour, broad; lip rather darker, yellow at the base. Mexico, 1837. This very desirable greenhouse species is somewhat difficult to grow; but it has been found to thrive well on long blocks of wood, in a cool house. E. evectum (extended).* fl., racemes loose, sub-cylindric, many-flowered; perianth bright rose-purple; sepals and petals similar, narrow-obovate, obtuse; lip adnate to the column, rather longer than the sepals, three-lobed nearly to the base; lobes all deeply cut and fringed. l. sessile, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, emarginate, coriaceous, plane; sheaths rather short. Native country unknown, but probably from New Grenada. A very handsome greenhouse species. (B. M. 5902.) E. falcatum (falcate).* fl. fragrant, one or two together; sepals and petals greenish-yellow; lip brighter yellow, not fringed. Summer. Mexico, 1835. Stove. This plant remains in full beauty for a considerable time. SYNS. E. aloifolium and E. Parkinsonianum. (B. M. 3778.) E. Frederici Guilielmi (Prince Frederick William's). fl. produced in large terminal panicles; sepals and petals dark purple, about 1in. long, lanceolate; lip trilobed; apex of the column and the disk pure white. l. distichous, 6in. to 8in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, dark green Peru, 1871. Stove. (I. H. n. s. 48.) E. Grahami (Graham's). A synonym of E. phoeniceum.

E. Hanburii (Hanbury's). fl., sepals and petals deep, dull purple; lip rose, veined with crimson. Spring. h. 2ft. Mexico, 1843. Greenhouse. (R. G. 398.) E. Lindleyanum (Lindley's).* The correct name of the plant described in this work under its generally-recognised name of Barkeria Lindleyana. Stove. E. macrochilum (large-lipped). A synonym of E. atropur pureum. E. myrianthum (many-flowered). fl. bright rosy-purple, small, in enormous panicles. Autumn. l. distichous, linear-oblong or lanceolate. Stems 3ft. to 4ft. high. Guatemala, 1866. This rare, free-flowering species grows best in a cool house. (B. M. 5556.) E. nemorale (wood).* fl. about 3in. across, freely produced on large drooping panicles; sepals and petals of a delicate mauve or rosy-lilac, lanceolate; lip striped with violet. July. Pseudo-bulbs from 3in. to 5in. high, two-leaved. Mexico, 1840. This is a splendid stove species, but somewhat difficult to manage successfully, the fault, in most instances, being in keeping too much soil about its roots, and in not exposing it to the full sun. (B. M. 4606, under name of E. verrucosum.) E. n. majus (larger). fl. produced in panicles, sometimes 3ft. in length; sepals and petals delicate rosy-mauve; lip white in the centre, with three short red lines, bordered deep rose. Stove.

E. paniculatum (panicled).* fl. purple or lilac-purple, with some yellow at the tip of the column, very numerous, disposed in a large terminal branched drooping panicle, upwards of 1ft. long. l. distichous, lanceolate-acuminate. Stems tall, reedy, 2ft. to 4ft. high. New Grenada, 1868. Greenhouse. One of the finest of the paniculate Epidendrums, and perhaps the most free-flowering of all orchids. (B. M. 5731.) E. Parkinsonianum (Parkinson's). A synonym of E. falcatum. E. phoeniceum (purple). fl., sepals and petals deep purple mottled with green; lip clear bright violet, veined and stained with crimson. Summer. h. 6in. to 12in. Cuba, 1840. A handsome, large-flowered stove species, with branching panicles, 2ft. to 3ft. high. SYN. E. Grahami. (B. M. 3385.) E. prismatocarpum (prism-fruited).* fl. fragrant ten to twelve on each erect raceme; sepals and petals yellow-green, spotted with dark purple or black; lip lilac-purple, bordered with white. June. Pseudo-bulbs flask-shaped, 10in. to 12in. in height, and, together with the evergreen leaves, dark green. Central America, 1862. Greenhouse.

E. pseudepidendrum (false Epidendrum). fl., raceme terminal, few-flowered; perianth bright green, except the lip and upper part of the column, which are orange-vermilion; lip (free portion) sub-orbicular, retuse or emarginate from the end being recurved; margin erose and obscurely nerved at the back, deep green; back keeled; margins recurved. Central America, 1871. An extremely curious greenhouse species. (B. M. 5929.) E. radicans (rooting). fl. dark orange-red, remaining in beauty for a considerable period, produced in long, terminal recemes. Guatemala, 1836. A pretty scandent greenhouse species, sometimes reaching 10ft. in height, and requiring the support of a stake. SYN. E. rhizophorum. (P. M. B. xii. 145.) E. raniferum (frog-bearing). fl. yellowish-green, thickly studded with purple-brown spots, about 2in. in diameter, numerously disposed in pendulous racemes. l. oblong, acute. Mexico. 1839. Greenhouse. One of the most attractive species of the genus. (F. M. n. s. 445.) E. rhizophorum (rooting). A synonym of E. radicans.

E. Sophronitis (Sophronitis-like). fl. dull yellow-green, mottled with dull violet-purple. May and June. l. two or three at the tip of the pseudo-bulb, 2in. to 3in. long, spreading, oblong-lanceolate, acute, thickly coriaceous, keeled, clothed on both surfaces with a pale glaucous-green, waxy secretion; margins purple. Pseudo-bulbs ovoid, green. Peru, 1867. Greenhouse. This is one of the most singular species of the genus. (B. M. 6314.) E. Stamfordianum (Stamford's). fl. bright yellow and green thickly spotted with crimson, numerously produced on a branching spike. April, May. Guatemala, 1836. Greenhouse. (B. M. 4759.) E. syringothyrsis (Lilac-like).* fl. dark purple, with a little orange and yellow on the lip and column, in branching panicles, seventy to eighty-flowered. l. distichous, about 6in. long, light green. Stems slender, about 3ft. high. Bolivia, 1866. Stove. The specific name is derived from its resemblance to the Lilac in form and colour. (B. M. 6145.) E. vitellinum (yolk-of-egg-coloured). fl. bright orange-scarlet, about 2in. in diameter; lip bright yellow; spike erect, ten to fifteen-flowered. Summer. l. and pseudo-bulbs glaucous. Mexico, 1840. It thrives best in a warm temperature and damp atmosphere. (B. M. 4107.) The variety majus is a handsome form, with considerably larger flowers, and broader sepals and petals, than the type.