Epidendrum cochlidium
Encyclopedia
Epidendrum cochlidium (or "Flor de San José") is a neotropical orchid
which can grow both terrestrially and epiphytically
in Peru and Venezuela at altitudes ranging from 1.2 km to 2.9 km.
which is characterized by a sympodial
growth habit, terminal inflorescences, stems and peduncles
covered with tight, imbricating, distichous sheathes, stems which do not swell into pseudobulb
s, terminal inflorescences which are nearly always racemose
, and flowers with the lip
adnate
to the sides of the column
to its apex. Reichenbach 1861 describes the stem as terete and gracile, whereas Schweinfurth 1960 describes the stem as "more or less stout." The leathery, ovate-oblong obtuse and emarginate leaves whose basal sheathes cover the upper part of the stem grow to 12 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The peduncle can grow to 0.6 m long and ends in a congested raceme; rarely, the inflorescence will branch into a panicle
.
The petals and sepals are linear-lanceolate to eliptic-oblong and nearly the same size, the petals only slightly smaller. As is typical of the section E. sect. Schistochila
, the lip is divided into three lobes. As is typical the subsection E. subsect. Tuberculata
, the lobes are lacerate, and a tubercle covers the center of the lip. The crested and plicate tuburcle is white to cream or yellow, and the remainder of the flower is red, pink, or yellow. The flower is non-resupinate.
The diploid chromosome
number of E. cochlidium has been determined as 2n = 28.
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
which can grow both terrestrially and epiphytically
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
in Peru and Venezuela at altitudes ranging from 1.2 km to 2.9 km.
Description
E. cochlidium is a member of the subgenus E. subg.AmphiglottiumEpidendrum subg. Amphiglottium
Epidendrum subg. Amphiglottium Lindl. 1841 is a subgenus of reed-stemmed Epidendrums, distinguished by an apical inflorescence with the peduncle covered from its base with close imbricating sheaths and by a lip that is adnate to the column to its apex.Reichenbach published three sections in this...
which is characterized by a sympodial
Sympodial
Sympodial means "with conjoined feet", and in biology is often used to refer to the outward morphology or mode of growth of organisms.-In botany:...
growth habit, terminal inflorescences, stems and peduncles
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
covered with tight, imbricating, distichous sheathes, stems which do not swell into pseudobulb
Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
s, terminal inflorescences which are nearly always racemose
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
, and flowers with the lip
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
adnate
Adnation
Adnation in plants is the "union of unlike parts; organically united or fused with another dissimilar part, e.g. an ovary to a calyx tube, or stamens to petals". This is in contrast to connation, the fusion of similar organs....
to the sides of the column
Column (botany)
The column, or technically the gynostemium, is a reproductive structure that can be found in several plant families: Aristolochiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Stylidiaceae....
to its apex. Reichenbach 1861 describes the stem as terete and gracile, whereas Schweinfurth 1960 describes the stem as "more or less stout." The leathery, ovate-oblong obtuse and emarginate leaves whose basal sheathes cover the upper part of the stem grow to 12 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The peduncle can grow to 0.6 m long and ends in a congested raceme; rarely, the inflorescence will branch into a panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
.
The petals and sepals are linear-lanceolate to eliptic-oblong and nearly the same size, the petals only slightly smaller. As is typical of the section E. sect. Schistochila
Epidendrum sect. Schistochila
Epidendrum sect. Schistochila Rchb.f. is a section of the subgenus E. subg. Amphiglottium Lindl. of the Genus Epidendrum of the Orchidaceae...
, the lip is divided into three lobes. As is typical the subsection E. subsect. Tuberculata
Epidendrum subsect. Tuberculata
Epidendrum subsect. Tuberculata is a subsection of the section Schistochila of the subgenus Amphiglottium Lindl. of the genus Epidendrum of the Orchidaceae. This subsection differs from the subsection Integra in that the margins of the trilobate lip are dentate or lacerate...
, the lobes are lacerate, and a tubercle covers the center of the lip. The crested and plicate tuburcle is white to cream or yellow, and the remainder of the flower is red, pink, or yellow. The flower is non-resupinate.
The diploid chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
number of E. cochlidium has been determined as 2n = 28.
External links
Photographs of flowers can be found at- http://www.orchidspecies.com/epicochclidium.htm
- http://maqui.ucdavis.edu/Images/Orchids/epidendrum_cochlidium.html
- http://www.winsomeorchids.com/gallery/miscellaneous/imagepage50.htm
- http://www.orchidstudium.com/Estrangeiras/Epidendrum%20cochlidium.html
- http://www.pbase.com/jwdicus/image/90856785