Epidendrum physopus Kraenzl. (1905: 87)

Quispe-Melgar, Harold Rusbelth, Llacua-Tineo, Elizabeth Santiago Ayala Yashira Stefani & Hágsater, Eric, 2023, Synopsis of the Peruvian species of Epidendrum (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae) belonging to the Scabrum group, subgroup Soratae: diversity and description of a new species, Phytotaxa 603 (1), pp. 1-26 : 18

16. Epidendrum physopus Kraenzl. (1905: 87) . ( Figure 8F ).

Type: — PERU. Junín: Tarma: Prov. Chanchamayo, Berge von Yanangu, östlich von Huacapistana, A. Weberbauer 2121, (holotype: HBG, isotype B, destroyed, photo AMES! F! NY! SEL!)

Heterotypic synonyms: Epidendrum trimeroglossum Schltr. (1920: 153) . Type : COLOMBIA: Cauca, 2600 m, M . Madero s.n. (Holotype: B, destroyed; sketch of flower published in Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 57: nr. 209. 1929; AMES 36091 !) .

Epidendrum schneideri Hágsater , (2001: t. 484). Type: COLOMBIA: Páramo von Bogotá, 3000–3100 m, 17 July 1944, M. Schneider 281. (holotype: S! isotypes: COL x2!)

Distribution:— Peru and Colombia. In Peru it is found in the department of Junín. It is a species of which only isolated records are known from Peru and Colombia, however, it is to be expected that there are many other intermediate populations, being a species with a wide range of distribution.

Notes:— Epidendrum physopus is recognized by the small plants, 12–20 cm tall, the leaves 1.2–3 cm, linear-lanceolate, the sepals 6–8 mm long, and the lip 3-lobed with the lateral lobes obliquely semi-ovate and the mid-lobe narrowly triangular with the margin erose. In the Soratae subgroup few species have a 3-lobed lip; E. fruticulus and E. chrysomyristicum have clearly 3-lobed lips, but the plants are around 2 m tall, the flowers larger, the sepals 10–13 mm long, and the margins of the lip entire.

Conservation Status:— DD. Data deficient.As most orchids, listed in CITES appendix II, and categorized as VU at the national level.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Species of the Soratae subgroup of the genus Epidendrum present in Peru. Illustrations by: W. Nauray (A). O. Pérez (B). R. Jiménez M. (C, D, F). M. López R. (E).