Epidendrum subsect. Spathacea

Epidendrum subsect. Spathacea Rchb.f.[1] is a subsection of the section E. sect. Planifolia Rchb.f. 1861 of the subgenus E. subg. Epidendrum Lindl. 1841 of the genus Epidendrum Lindl. of the Orchidaceae. Like the other subsections of E. sect. Planifolia, the species of E. subsect. Spathacea are characterized by a sympodial growth habit without pseudobulbs, a lack of any spathes or sheathes covering the base of the racemose inflorescence, and by flat (not round) leaves. The species categorized in Spathacea differ from the members of the other subsections by having large floral bracts, which make the inflorescence resemble a strobilus. Reichenbach originally placed eight species in this subsection (page numbers refer to Reichenbach 1861):

Epidendrum subsect. Spathacea
Epidendrum coriifolium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Epidendrum
Subgenus: Epidendrum subg. Epidendrum
Section: Epidendrum sect. Planifolia
Subsection: Epidendrum subsect. Spathacea
Rchb.f.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Folia plana, bractei spathaceis saepius ancipitibus" H. G. Reichenbach, "ORCHIDES" in Dr. Carl Müller, Ed. Walpers Annales Botanices Systematicae. Tomus VI Berlin. 1861. p. 397