Epidendrum ardens Kraenzl (1906: 526)

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 : 7-10

1. Epidendrum ardens Kraenzl (1906: 526) . ( Figure 4A )

Type:— PERU. Cusco: Weg von Cusco nach Santa Ana , 3300–3400 m, A. Weberbauer 4978 (holotype B, destroyed: Photo: AMES! F! MO! NY! SEL! lectotype selected by Santiago & Hágsater 2009: HBG. Photo at AMO! NY!)

Distribution:— Peru, in the departments of Apurimac, Cusco, Huancavelica and Junín. This species is distributed in the eastern cordillera of the Andes in central and southern Peru.

Notes:— Epidendrum ardens is distinguished by having leaves 1.8–3.4 × 0.6–1.2 cm, lanceolate and recurvate, the inflorescence densely many flowered, flowers in bright orange or scarlet red, rarely yellow or red-brown sepals and petals partly spreading and lip spreading, reniform with erose margin. Vegetatively could be confused with E. jose-alvarezii but that species has the sepals spreading and the petals descendent and hidden behind the lip, the lip slightly 3-lobed and revolute.

Conservation Status:— DD. Data deficient. Listed in CITES appendix II and at national level it has been suggested as Vulnerable.

Examined specimens:— PERU. Apurimac: Prov. Andahuaylas, Piscobamba ó Piacobamba , 10 January 1947, C . Vargas 6418, ( CUZ x2!) . Huancavelica: Tayacaja, Anexo Llihuampampa, 3000–3200 m, 17 October 2010, L. E . Egoavil 8, ( HOXA!) — Junín: Parianhunca, 3700–3800 m, 5 August 1974, O . Tovar 7215, ( USM!). See Santiago & Hágsater 2009: t. 1206, Epidendrum ardens in Hágsater & Sánchez (2009) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Species of the Soratae subgroup of the genus Epidendrum present in Peru. Illustrations by: R. Jiménez M. (A, B, D, E). D. Trujillo (C). M. López R. (F).