Epidendrum polystachyum

Epidendrum polystachyum HBK (1816) is an epiphytic orchid, which grows wild in seasonally dry forests on the western slopes of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru (including Piura^[1]) at altitudes near 2 km.^[2]

Epidendrum polystachyum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Genus:	Epidendrum
Subgenus:	Epidendrum subg. Aulizeum
Species:	E. polystachyum
Binomial name
Epidendrum polystachyum Kunth in F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, 1816

Description

Epidendrum polystachyum has a sympodial habit, producing fusiform pseudobulbs, each with several oblong obtuse conduplicate leaves. The terminal inflorescence is a many-branched panicle with few flowers on each branch (Reichenbach 1861 says "scapo polystachyo"). The sepals, petals, and lip are peach colored: the dorsal sepal oblong to lanceolate, acuminate and reflexed; the lateral sepals oblique and reflexed; the petals lanceolate-spatulate. The trilobate lip is adnate to the column to its apex: the lateral lobes irregularly obovate with erose to crenulate margins; the medial lobe smaller, deeply emarginate, divided in two at the apex, with a raised oblong yellow-green callus.

Homonym

Epidendrum polystachyum Pav. ex Lindl. (1831) is a synonym for Epidendrum polyanthum Lindl. (1831).