Epidendrum fimbriatum is a terrestrial (sometimes epiphytic) orchid native to high altitudes (2.2—3.4 km)H. G. Reichenbach "ORCHIDES", nr. 333 in C. Müller, Ed. Walpers. Annales Botanices Systematicae 6(1861)406—407. Berlin. in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
First published in F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 351 (1816)
Description Epidendrum fimbriatum produces rather slender stems without any tendency to produce pseudobulbs covered from the base to the last regular leaf with close, tubular imbricating sheaths which, on the upper part of the stem, bear distichous leathery ovate-oblong retuse leaves, up to 66 mm long by 6 mm wide.Schweinfurth "Orchids of Peru", Fieldiana: Botany 30(1959)441—442 The apical inflorescence emerges from the last regular leaf uncovered by either sheath or spathe and terminates (usually) in a single congested raceme with floral bracts that can grow to nearly 1 cm long. The fleshy non-resupinate flowers are white to light rose with purple spots. The lanceolate to elliptic oblong sepals grow to nearly 6 mm long; the narrower petals are somewhat shorter. The fimbriated, unlobed, somewhat pointed lip is adnate to the column to near its middle, as is more typical of the genus Prosthechea.
Homophony Epidendrum fimbriatum Vell. (1831) nom. illeg. is a synonym for the different orchid, Laelia gloriosa (Rchb.f.) L.O.Williams (1941).
Synonyms
Epidendrum alternans Lindl. in J. Bot. (Hooker) 3: 88 (1841) Epidendrum integrilabium Ames & C.Schweinf. in Schedul. Orchid. 8: 46 (1925) Epidendrum rhomboglossum Kraenzl. in Beibl. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 117: 28 (1916)
References
External links Several pictures may be found at The Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia http://maqui.ucdavis.edu/Images/Orchids/epidendrum_fimbriatum.html http://www.orchidphotos.org/images/poe2009flowers/large-31.html http://www.orchidphotos.org/images/orchids/POE2005/Fri/image023.htm
Images of herbarium specimens may be found at http://orchid.unibas.ch/phpMyHerbarium/5137.3/1/Epidendrum/fimbriatum/Humboldt_Friedrich_Wilhelm_Heinrich_Ale_Bonpland_Aime_Jacques_Alexandre_Kunth_Karl_Sigismund/specimen.php