Epidendrum subsect. Spathacea
Introduction '''''Epidendrum''' subsect. '''Spathacea''''' Rchb.f. 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):* ''E. bifarium'' Sw.(1799) on page 401* ''E. bangii'' Rolfe(1907) on page 401 as ''E. macrostachyum'' Lindl. (1845) ''nom. illeg. ''* ''E. coriifolium'' Lindl. (1851) on page 400* ''E. paranaense'' Barb.Rodr. (1882) on page 401 as ''E. imbricatum'' Lindl. (1831) ''nom. illeg. ''* ''E. ramosum'' Jacq. (1760) on page 399* ''E. rigidum'' Jacq. ( 1760) on page 400* ''E. strobiliferum'' Rchb.f. (1859) on pages 399-400 * ''E. xylostachyum'' Lindl. (1845) on page 400
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