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Epidendrum nocturnum

(Night-Smelling Epidendrum)

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Lady of the Night Orchid, Night Scented Orchid, Night-Scented Orchid, Night-Smelling Epidendrum

Common Names in Spanish:

Epidendrum Nocturno

Description

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Family Orchidaceae

Herbs or rarely vines , perennial , rarely annual , strongly mycotrophic, epiphytic, terrestrial , lithophytic, or rarely aquatic or subterranean , usually green and photosynthetic, some without chlorophyll and saprophytic . Roots subterranean or aerial , tuberoid or stolonoid, usually with spongy , multilayered velamen. Stems erect or pendent or modified into creeping rhizomes, simple or sympodially or monopodially branched, delicate to stout, or thickened as corms or pseudobulbs , or greatly reduced, sometimes proliferous (especially diverse in sympodial orchids) . Leaves solitary, several, or reduced to scales , basal or cauline, alternate, distichous, or sometimes opposite or whorled , either convolute or duplicate , simple, sessile or petiolate ; stipules absent; blade articulate or not, plicate or conduplicate , cylindric , triangular, or laterally flattened, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal or lateral , racemes , spikes, panicles, or rarely cymose , erect or variously pendent, 1 many-flowered, lax or dense, flowering successively or simultaneously. Flowers bisexual [rarely unisexual ], epigynous , resupinate or not, pedicellate or sessile, 3-merous, usually bilaterally symmetric [rarely nearly radially symmetric], with abscission layer between pedicel and peduncle, rarely between ovary and perianth or ovary and pedicel; perianth of 6 tepals in 2 whorls, all petaloid or sepals sometimes greener and more foliaceous in texture ; sepals alike or not, lateral sepals often connate (forming synsepal), or all 3 sepals variously connate and/or adnate or distinct and/or free ; petals 3, median petal modified as lip, commonly larger or differing in form and color, lateral petals commonly but not always similar to sepals; nectaries of various sorts; extrafloral nectaries sometimes present on pedicels, bracts, or leaf sheaths ; stamens usually 1 2( 3, if 3 the 3d modified into sterile staminode), all on side opposite lip, fully or partially adnate to style, forming column; pollen grains in monads or tetrads , usually in 2 8 pollinia, sometimes subdivided into small packets, rarely granular , sometimes pollinia with caudicles and/or stipes; gynoecium 3-carpellate, connate, forming compound , inferior, 1- or 3-locular ovary; style variously adnate to filaments ; stigmas usually 3-lobed, concave to convex , part of median stigma lobe modified into rostellum , often separating anther from fertile portions of stigma, commonly preventing or in some cases facilitating self-pollination ; ovules numerous , anatropous , minute. Fruits capsules, opening (dehiscing) by longitudinal slits, rarely fleshy and indehiscent berries . Seeds numerous (millions in some species), minute; endosperm absent.

Genera ca. 800, species 22,000 35,000 (701 genera, 208 species in the flora ; 1 genus, 6 species introduced) : worldwide except Antarctica, most diverse in tropical forests .

The overall count for orchid genera in the flora includes Spathoglottis plicata Blume, which was recently reported from Palm Beach County, Florida. The plants , known locally since 1982, are apparently widely naturalized in old shellpits. The number of species in the flora includes one newly recognized species in Habenaria that is morphologically described, but not fully treated here. Orchidaceae are by far the largest and most diverse monocot family and rank among the largest families of flowering plants. An accurate account of the number of genera and species has eluded orchid scientists, and species counts published in the last 20 years range from 15,000 to 35,000. New species are continually being described. In addition, numerous natural and artificial hybrids exist.

Although orchids are important in horticulture , most of the plants traded in the national and international market belong to a small number of species and their hybrids in only a few genera; the majority of orchids are not commonly cultivated. Few orchids are economically important outside the horticultural trade: the fruits of several species of Vanilla are the source of the spice vanilla, and the dry roots of some species of Dactylorhiza, Eulophia, and Orchis are made into salep, a flour consumed in northern Africa, the Middle East (especially Turkey), and Asia. Some species are locally used for medicinal purposes; the mucilage from pseudobulbs of several species is sometimes used as glue; and in the Far East the stems of some species of Dendrobium are split into strips used to weave handicrafts. A few orchids have been found to cause contact dermatitis (e.g. , Cypripedium reginae) .

Orchids range vegetatively from Lilliputian plants a few millimeters long (Bulbophyllum Thouars and Platystele Schlechter) to gigantic clusters weighing several hundred kilograms (Grammatophyllum Blume) to some as much as 13.4 meters in height (Sobralia altissima D. E. Bennett & Christenson, a recently described species from Peru) . Likewise, flowers vary in size from less than 1 mm and barely visible to the naked eye (Platystele Garay), to 15 20 cm diameter (some Paphiopedilum Pfitzer, Phragmipedium Rolfe, and Cattleya Lindley spp. ), and ultimately to 76 cm [Phragmipedium caudatum (Lindley) Rolfe]. Weight can vary from a fraction of a gram (many Pleurothallus R. Brown spp.) to nearly 100 grams (Coryanthes Hooker spp.) . Their fragrances vary from delightful (Cattleya Lindley) to repulsive and unbearable (in some species of Bulbophyllum Thouars) . The plants colonize habitats ranging from some of the driest and hottest places on earth to the wettest and coolest, literally occurring from polar regions to the equator. Within the monocots, the most important diagnostic features of Orchidaceae are reduction of adaxial stamens, fusion of the remaining stamens to the gynoecium forming the column, aggregation of pollen into compact pollinia (present elsewhere only in the dicots , in Asclepiadaceae), differentiation of the median petal into the lip, a sometimes complex organ, and the exceedingly small size of the seed, which lacks endosperm. Among other distinguishing characteristics: pollen in the pollinia is usually not available as a nutrient-source (Cleistes Richard ex Lindley being a notable exception), and the often complex interaction with pollinators culminates in the phenomenon of pseudocopulation in several genera (e.g., Ophrys Linnaeus, Caladenia R. Brown sect. Calonema, Drakaea Lindley) . In the latter process , the flower mimics the appearance , the smell, and often the movements of a female wasp, attracting a male of a suitable species that tries to copulate with the flower. It usually only succeeds in becoming attached to a pollinium , which will then be transferred if the male tries to copulate with another flower.

Roots of orchids may be covered with velamen, spongy layers derived from the epidermis ; fleshy thickenings of roots are tuberoids (tubers being restricted to stems) . Stems may be swollen or thickened, underground corms or aerial pseudobulbs. Flowers are often resupinate: the lip (modified median petal) is  lowermost,  usually as a result of the pedicel being twisted or bent in its development by 180°. Pedicellate ovary, usually used in reference to length , refers to the combined pedicel and ovary. Flowers are not always borne on pedicels; when they are, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between a slender ovary and the pedicel. Consequently, because of their slender ovaries, flowers of a  racemose spike  appear to be pedicellate even though they are sessile, while a  spicate raceme  has pedicels so short that they appear to be absent. Orchid flowers often have a modified median sepal, the dorsal sepal. Sepals coalescing at their tips form a synsepal. The middle portion of the upper (adaxial) face of the lip is the disc: it may be a thickened callus and may bear hairs , papillae, or other ornamentation. In orchids the style, stigmas, filaments, and one or more anthers are united to form a column; appendages projecting laterally from the stigma are column wings; the lip may be attached to the protrusion at the base of the column to form a column foot ; lateral sepals that are also attached to the foot form a mentum (chin) . In most orchids the column bears a single anther at its apex; the clinandrium is the cavity within which the anther is borne or embedded . Pollen is borne in discrete masses (pollinia) . Genera with mealy (sectile) pollinia may have pollinia within the anther tapering into a caudicle (stalk ), which is attached to a sticky viscidium . Those with waxy pollinia have pollinia attached to one or two stipes (of stigmatic origin and formed outside the anther), which in turn are attached to a viscidium. The various aggregations of pollinia, caudicles, stipes, and viscidium form a pollinarium , the pollination unit carried by pollinators. The median stigma lobe may have a slender extension or little beak (rostellum), which aids in gluing the pollinarium to the pollinator.[1]

Genus Epidendrum

Herbs, epiphytic, rarely lithophytic, cespitose. Roots fleshy , glabrous . Stems erect , repent , or hanging , canelike, simple or branching. Leaves alternate; petiole tubular , sheathing , articulate ; blade ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, fleshy-leathery. Inflorescences terminal [lateral or basal], racemose to nearly corymbose or distichous, producing flowers only once, or during several years from same or new racemes from old axis; flowers pedicellate or not. Flowers resupinate or not, if not then distichous or spirally arranged , simultaneous or successive; sepals nearly equal; lip adnate to column throughout, forming nectary tube , tube penetrating ovary, occasionally producing nectar; column straight or slightly arched; clinandrium hood partly covering anther ; anther 4-celled; pollinia 4, obovoid , laterally compressed , nearly equal; rostellum slit, producing semiliquid viscidium attached to caudicles of pollinarium . Fruits capsules, ellipsoid to subglobose, sometimes with pedicel or beak , 3-ribbed, 1-locular.

Species over 1000: tropical regions , Western Hemisphere.

Outside the flora area Epidendrum is highly varied (E. Hágsater 1984), sometimes producing pseudobulbs or thickened stems, semiterete to membranaceous leaf blades, and apical, lateral, or basal, racemose to nearly corymbose to paniculate inflorescences. The lip of the flower is adnate to the column, forming a nectary tube, but it rarely produces nectar. The lip is exceptionally distinct and free . The rostellum is always slit, producing a transparent or whitish semiliquid viscidium. The pollinarium usually has 4 pollinia, sometimes with 2 very reduced, rarely with only 2.

The Florida species were segregated into 2 genera, Amphiglottis and Spathiger (J. K . Small 1933). Later authors have recognized only Epidendrum.[2]

Physical Description

Species Epidendrum nocturnum

Plant cespitose, to 100 cm. Roots basal, 1-2.5 mm diam. Stems unbranched, straight, terete proximally, compressed distally, to 90 cm. Leaves 4-10, evenly distributed on distal 1/2 of stem; petiole to 46 mm; blade elliptic , 2-lobed, 6-15 × 0.5-3 cm, leathery. Inflorescences nearly corymbose ; peduncle zigzag, branching with time, greater than 5 mm, producing flowers over several years. Flowers resupinate, produced in succession , 1-2 at a time; sepals yellowish, narrowly linear-lanceolate, to 60 × 6 mm, apex acute; petals yellowish, narrowly linear-lanceolate, to 58 × 2 mm; lip white, deeply 3-lobed, middle lobe narrowly linear-acuminate, overall to 24 × 40 mm, lateral lobes obliquely semiovate; callus yellow; column 18 mm; clinandrium hood surpassing anther , erose; anther ovoid; ovary 45-50 mm. Capsules ellipsoid ; pedicel 7-14 mm; body 25-32 × 10-15 mm; beak 16 mm. [source]

Flowering Sep--Mar; fruiting Jan--Apr, sporadically throughout year. [source]

Epidendrum nocturnum is widespread and common throughout the tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere. Outside the flora area, the size of stems, leaves, and flowers is somewhat variable, and plants or whole populations often have cleistogamous flowers. A number of good species occur in the Neotropics. The length of the ovary and the pedicel of the capsule often are good specific characters. [source]

Habit: Forb/herb

Flowers: Bloom Period: Epiphytic on trees and palms in forests , hammocks , and swamps ; 0--30 m [3].

• Flower Color: near white, white

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 18-24" tall.

Habitat

Epiphytic on trees and palms in forests , hammocks , and swamps ; 0--30 m [3].

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 3,999 meters (0 to 13,120 feet).[4]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Soil: Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 7.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun .

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 10a, 10b, 11. (map)

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Amphiglottis difformis auct. non (Jacq.) Britt.
  2. Amphiglottis nocturna (Jacq.) Britton
  3. Amphiglottis nocturna (Jacquin) Britton
  4. Auliza nocturna (Jacq.) Small
  5. Auliza nocturna (Jacquin) Small
  6. Epidendrum carolinianum Lamarck
  7. Epidendrum difforme auct. non Jacq.
  8. Epidendrum latifolium (Lindl.) Garay & Sweet
  9. Epidendrum moirianum auct. non A. D. Hawkes
  10. Neolehmannia difformis auct. non (Jacq.) Pabst
  11. Nyctosma nocturna (Jacq.) Raf.
  12. Nyctosma nocturna (Jacquin) Rafinesque
  13. Phaedrosanthus nocturnus (Jacq.) Kuntze

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Place of publication : Enum. syst. pl. 29. 1760 (Select. stirp. amer. hist. 225, t. 139. 1763)

Name verified on 24-Jan-2005 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 04-Aug-2006

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Epidendrum

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 2204 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

E. · E. abbottii · E. abbreviatum · E. aberrans · E. aciculare · E. acinacifolium · E. acinaciforme · E. acinacisolium · E. acklandiae · E. acreense · E. acrirachis · E. acrobatesii · E. acrochordonium · E. acrorhodum · E. acrostigma · E. aculeatum · E. acuminatum · E. acunae · E. acutifolium · E. acutissimum · E. acutum · E. adamsii · E. addae · E. adenocarpon · E. adenocarpon var. rosei · E. adenocaulon · E. adenocaulum · E. adenoglossum · E. adnatum · E. adolfomorenoi · E. advenum · E. aemulum · E. aemulum var. brevistriatum · E. aerides · E. aerosanthum · E. affine · E. agathosmicum · E. aggregatum · E. agoyanense · E. aguaricoense · E. aguaticoides · E. aguirrei · E. alabastrialatum · E. alagoense · E. alanjense · E. alatum · E. alatum var. grandiflorum · E. alatum var. longipetalum · E. alatum var. parviflorum · E. alberti · E. albertii · E. albifloroides · E. albiforum · E. albo-purpureum · E. albomarginatum · E. albopurpureum · E. alexandri · E. alexii · E. alfaroi · E. alfredii · E. allemanianum · E. allemanii · E. allemanoides · E. allenii · E. allisonii · E. allochronum · E. almasyi · E. almaysi · E. aloides · E. aloifolium · E. aloisii · E. alopecurium · E. alopecurum · E. alpestre · E. alpicolonigrense · E. alpicoloscandens · E. alpicolum · E. alsum · E. alternans · E. althausenii · E. alticola · E. altissima · E. altissimum · E. alvarezdeltoroi · E. amabile · E. amandum · E. amapense · E. amayense · E. amazonicoriifolium · E. amazonicum · E. ambiguum · E. amblostoma · E. amblostomoides · E. amesianum · E. amethystinum · E. amethystoglossum · E. amictum · E. ammophilum · E. amparoanum · E. amphistomum (Dingy-Flower Epidendrum)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 22, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Gustavo A. Romero-González, Germán Carnevali Fernández-Concha, Robert L. Dressler, Lawrence K. Magrath & George W. Argus "Orchidaceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 15, 16, 17, 26, 27, 490, 491, 617. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Eric Hágsater "Epidendrum". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 495, 608, 609, 613. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. "Epidendrum nocturnum". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 610, 612. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  4. Mean = 336.480 meters (1,103.937 feet), Standard Deviation = 604.840 based on 389 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/1/2009