Epidendrum nocturnum Jacq.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Epiphytic or epilithic herbaceous plants, 30–90 cm tall

Morphology Stem

Stems erect, slender, cane-like, terete, 10–80 cm long

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5–9, generally distributed along the upper half of the stem; blades coriaceous, linear-elliptical, elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, sometimes mucronate, dorsally keeled, 6–18 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence apical, erect; peduncle short, covered by a tubular, ancipitose, subfoliaceous, acute bract; racemes producing several flowers in succession

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers resupinate; sepals and petals pale green, olive green, dull yellow- orange to pinkish brown; sepals revolute, narrowly lanceolate, acute to shortly acuminate, 31–70 mm long, median sepal 7-nerved, lateral sepals 9-nerved; petals 3-nerved, linear- elliptic, acute, 33–60 mm long; lip white, united to the column, trilobed, 21–42 mm long, bicallose; lateral lobes spreading, lanceolate to lanceolate-triangular, acute, 19–33 mm long, midlobe narrowly ensiform, acute, 24–36 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column white, arcuate, conical in the basal half, abruptly dilated above and laterally flattened, 16–19 mm long, clinandrium short, erose-dentate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther subspherical, 4-locular, pollinia 4, subequal, laterally compressed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules on pedicels 10–36 mm long, ellipsoid, 28–50 mm long, held approximately midway between the base of the pedicel and the tip of the beak, beak 6–17 mm long, overall length 45–80 mm long.

Distribution

Grand Cayman. Widespread from Florida, Bahamas, throughout the West Indies, Mexico south to tropical and subtropical parts of S. America.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.