This genus has the following characteristics: a slit rostellum (small extension or little beak to the median stigma lobe), producing a transparent or white thick and adhesive liquid. the sometimes fringed lip is adnate to ( = united with) the column (forming a nectary tube (but rarely producing nectar), continuing through the pedicel). The genus Prosthechea was split off because the lip is not completely adnate to the apex of the column. the pollinarium contains four pollinia, sometimes two and rarely eight pollinia, and then four very reduced. the erect, pendent, or creeping stems are reed-like, simple or branching, or may be pseudobulbs or thickened stems. (The genus Coilostylis, recently split off from Epidendrum, has pseudobulbs, is an artificial genus and does not stand up to molecular analysis) Synonymy Initially, European taxonomists applied the generic epithet Epidendrum to all newly discovered epiphytic orchids. Gradually, many of these "Epidendrums" were recognized as being quite diverse and deserving of different generic epithets—many belong to different tribes or subtribes (e.g. Vanda). To add to the confusion, however, many descriptions of closely related species were published with different generic epithets. As if the confusion caused by these publications were not great enough, many closely related genera (or perhaps subgenera, sections, or subsections) have been recognized and published. According to the modern rules of taxonomy, each new proposed genus that is split off from Epidendrum must bear the name of the oldest generic epithet published for a member of the new genus. Hence, many genera which have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum have later been segregated out again. Because most of these decisions rest on the informed opinions of authorities, the segregated taxa are often then re-published as synonyms. Hence, some of the following information may seem a bit contradictory, especially if the assertion that two names are "synonyms" is misconstrued as an assertion that the two names mean exactly the same thing. The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Epidendrum: Amphiglottis Salisb. Auliza Small Coilostylis Raf. Didothion Raf. Diothonea Lindl. Dothilophis Raf. Doxosma Raf. Epicladium Small Epidanthus L.O.Williams Epidendropsis Garay & Dunst. Exophya Raf. Hemiscleria Lindl. Kalopternix Garay & Dunst. Lanium (Lindl.) Benth. Larnandra Raf. Microepidendrum Brieger (nom. inval.) Minicolumna Brieger (nom. inval.) Nanodes Lindl. Neolehmannia Kraenzl. Neowilliamsia Garay Nyctosma Raf. Phadrosanthus Neck. ex Raf. Physinga Lindl. Pleuranthium Benth. Pseudepidendrum Rchb.f. Psilanthemum Klotzsch ex Stein (1892) Seraphyta Fisch. & C.A.Mey. Spathiger