''Epidendrum fulgens'' is a
crucifix orchid native to
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
. Like ''
E. secundum'', with which it has been found to hybridize in habitats disturbed by human activity, ''E. fulgens'' flowers are
non-resupinate and are born in a congested raceme at the end of a long spike. Like all
crucifix orchids, the lip is adnate to the column and bears three lobes, producing the effect of a cross. Like
E. cinnabarinum,
E. denticulatum, and
E. puniceoluteum (also Brazilian members of subsection carinata), E. fulgens grows in the litoral
restinga
Restingas () are a distinct type of coastal tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest in eastern Brazil. They form on sandy, acidic, and nutrient-poor soils, and are characterized by medium-sized trees and shrubs adapted to the drier and n ...
habitat.
The
specific epithet
In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...
, ''fulgens'', is the present participle of the
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
verb ''fulgere'' "to shine, to glow" and refers to the brilliant yellow-orange flowers with red spots on the yellow lip.
Distinguishing characteristics
''E. fulgens'' has a noticeably wider angle (nearly 180°) between the lateral sepals than most of the crucifix orchids, as well as a noticeably narrower angle (little more than 90°) between the petals. The yellow lip bears striking red spots in two lines near the callus. The roots are produced mostly near the bottom of the stem.
''E. fulgens'' is easily distinguished from ''
E. radicans'' and ''
E. ibaguense'' by its
non-resupinate flowers.
Perhaps the most noticeable difference between ''E. fulgens'' and ''
E. secundum'' is the callus: ''E. fulgens'' has a small keel in front of the column, flanked by two calli, whereas ''
E. secundum'' has a single, much larger callus in front of the column. Additionally, ''E. fulgens'' is not found in the mountainous habitat where ''
E. secundum'' usually grows.
''E. fulgens'' differs from ''
E. puniceoluteum'' and ''
E. cinnabarinum'' by having slightly smaller yellow-orange flowers with a yellow lip, instead of bright red.
The chromosome number of ''E. fulgens'' has been determined by two separate investigators as 2''n'' = 24
[Table 4 of Pinheiro F, Koehler S, Correˆa AM et al. "Phylogenetic
relationships and infrageneric classification of Epidendrum subgenus Amphiglottium (Laeliinae, Orchidaceae)". ''PlantSystematics and Evolution'', 283(2009)165–177.] This number differs from ''E. puniceoluteum'' (with 52), ''E. secundum'' (with 28—80), ''E. cinnabarinum'' (with 240), ''E. radicans'' (with 40—64), and ''E. ibaguense'' (with 70).
Occurrence
''E. fulgens'' grows in the restinga vegetation near the Atlantic shore from
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...
in the north to
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul (, ; ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative units of Brazil#List, fifth-most populous state and the List of Brazilian s ...
in the south, at a typical elevation of 10 m.
References
* Pansarin, E. R., and Amaral, M. C. E.: "Reproductive biology and pollination mechanisms of ''Epidendrum secundum'' (Orchidaceae). Floral variation: a consequence of natural hybridization?" ''Plant Biology'' 10 (2008) 211-219.
* Pinheiro, F., and Barros, F.: "''Epidendrum puniceoluteum'', uma nova especie de Orchidaceae do litoral brasileiro" ''Hoehnea'' 33(2):247-250, 2007.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3055749
fulgens
Orchids of Brazil
Taxa named by Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart