EPHEDRA 



EPIDENDRUM 



1117 



EPHEDRA (ancient Greek name, used by Pliny for 

 the horse-tail). Gnetdcese. Woody subjects, rarely 

 cultivated ; usually found only in botanical collections, 

 although the scarlet fruits of some species are very 

 attractive. 



Usually low much -branched shrubs, often pro- 

 cumbent and sometimes climbing, the green branches 

 resembling much those of Equisetum, bearing minute, 

 scale-like, sheathing Ivs. in distant pairs or whorls: 

 fls. dioecious, in small aments, forming usually pedun- 

 cled axillary clusters; staminate fl. with a 2-4-lobed 

 perianth and with the 2-8 stamens united into a column; 

 pistillate fl. with an urceolate perianth, including a 

 naked ovule, developing into a nutlet; in some species 

 the bracts of the ament become fleshy, and form a 

 berry-like syncarp. About 30 species from S. Eu., N. 

 Afr., Asia and in Trop. Amer. Latest monograph by 

 O. Stapf, in Denkschr. Akad. Wissensch. Wien., 

 vol. 56 (1889), (in German and Latin). Curious-look- 

 ing, usually low shrubs, with pale green apparently 

 leafless branchlets, much resembling those of the 

 horse-tail and with inconspicuous fls., but fr. in some 

 species decorative, berry -like and scarlet. They are 

 but rarely grown, and most of them are tender; half- 

 hardy N. are E. distachya, E. foliata, E. nevadensis, E. 

 trifurca. They can be used for covering dry, sandy 

 banks or rocky slopes. Prop, is by seeds or by suckers 

 and layers. 



E. allissima, Desf. Climbing shrub, to 20 ft., green: Ivs. to 1 in. 

 long: aments paniculate or solitary; fls. with 2-3 stamens; pistillate 

 fls. 1-2: fr. berry-like, ovoid, J^in. long, scarlet. N. Afr. B.M. 7670. 

 G.C. III. 7:792. E. distachya, Linn. (E. vulgaris, Linn.). Low, often 

 rocumbent, 1-3 ft., pale or bluish green: Ivs. one-twelveth in. 

 ong: aments usually clustered, staminate oblong; fls. with about 8 



p 

 lo 



stamens, pistillate 2-fld.: fr. berry-like. S. Eu., W. Asia. R.F.G. 

 1 1 : 809. Var. monoslachya, Stapf. Aments usually solitary. E. 

 foliata, Boiss. (E. kokanica, Regel). Procumbent or erect, to 15 ft., 

 bright or bluish green: Ivs. to 1 in. long: aments usually clustered, 

 ovate; staminate fls. with 34 sessile stamens; pistillate 2-fld.: fr. 

 berry-like. W. Asia. E. kokanica, Regel=E. foliata. E. nebro- 

 densis, Tineo. Erect, with rigid, pale green branches: Ivs. J^in. 

 long: aments solitary or few; staminate globular; pistillate 2-fld.: 

 fr. berry-like. Medit. region to Himalayas. E. nevadensis, Wats. 

 Erect, 2-3 ft., with pale or bluish green branches: Ivs. J'gin.: aments 

 usually solitary; staminate ovate, 6-8-fld.; pistillate 2-fld.: fr. dry, 

 with ovate bracts. Calif., New Mex. E. trifurca, Torr. Erect, 

 with rigid, yellowish or pale green branches: Ivs. in 3's, connate, 

 about J4in. long; aments solitary; pistillate 1-fld. : fr. dry, the round- 

 ish bracts with transparent margins. Ariz, to Colo. E. vulgaris, 

 Linn.=E. di8tachya. ALFRED REHDER. 



EPICATTLEYA (compounded of Epidendrum and 

 Cattleya). Orchiddceae. A genus established to contain 

 hybrids between Epidendrum and Cattleya. 



The following are some of these: E. balarucensis (C. 

 labiataxE. eburneum). E. Candida (C. SkinnerixE. 

 nocturnum). E. decipiens (C. gigasxE. ciliare). E. 

 Lilianse (C. Gaskelliana x E. costaricense) . E. made- 

 burgensis. E. Nebo (C.Claesiana x E. O'Brienianum). 



E. nemordle-gigas (C. Warscewiczii x E. nemorale). 

 E. O'Briennise (C. Bowringiana x E. O'Brienianum). 



E.drpetii (C. amethystoglpssa x E. O'Brienianum). 

 E. salmonicolor (C. Mendelii x E. aurantiacum). E. 

 Sedenii (C. Bowringiana x E. radiatum). E. Wolter- 

 idna(C. Schrrederse x E. aurantiacum). 



GEORGE V. NASH. 



EPIDENDRUM (upon trees, alluding to their epi- 

 phytal habit). Orchiddceae. Epiphytic orchids, some 

 requiring hothouse and some coolhouse conditions; 

 although a large genus, of minor importance horti- 

 culturally. 



Inflorescence simple or branched, nearly always 

 terminal; claw of the labellum more or less adnate to 

 footless column, the blade spreading and usually deeply 

 lobed; pollinia 4, 2 in each anther-cell, separated. 

 Nearly 500 species discovered and described from the 

 New World tropics, chiefly from Cent. Amer. 



estivation of epidendrums. 



Epidendrums are noted as the rankest weeds amongst 

 the orchid tribes. The remarkable success in the rais- 



ing of hybrids, be it in the genus itself or with the 

 related Cattleya and Laelia, has opened a wide field for 

 the breeder. Epidendrum seedlings grow freely; the 

 time required to bring them to the flowering stage is 

 little compared with other orchids, and it is but a ques- 

 tion of a short time till the blood of the epidendrums 

 will be infused into the weaker but more gorgeous 

 flowers of genera more difficult to grow. It is also the 

 long stem and the grace of the racemes of the epidendra, 

 as well as the odor of some of their species, which the 

 hybridist will try to blend with the largeness of short- 

 stemmed flowers, of cattleyas for example. Therefore 

 a list of the species but rarely found under cultivation is 

 given below, the value of which, however, will call for 

 and justify large importations of their kind before long. 

 It is scarcely possible to apply any one rule for the 

 cultivation of this widely divergent and large genus, 

 which includes many hundreds of variable individuals 

 geographically distributed all over tropical America. 

 For convenience they are treated under their several 

 separate sections. 



Section I. BARKERIA embraces several deciduous 

 small-growing species which generally deteriorate 

 sooner or later under cultivation. They succeed best in 

 small baskets, suspended from the 

 roof, in rough loose material, such 

 as coarse peat fiber, with a small 

 quantity of live chopped sphagnum 

 moss added to retain moisture, this 

 compost freely interspersed with 

 pieces of charcoal or broken crocks 

 or potsherds. They are all subjects 

 for the coolhouse, require a free 

 moist atmosphere, shade from the 

 sun 'while growing, and must be 

 syringed frequently overhead in 



1397. Epidendrum radicans. 

 (XK) 



bright weather. After the plants have matured growth, 

 they should be removed to a rather sunny location and 

 be syringed overhead often enough to keep them in 

 sound condition until they start new action. W T hile 

 resting during winter the temperature may range from 

 50 to 55 F. at night, and a few degrees higher during 

 the day. They are increased by division. This should 

 take place as the plants start growth action in early 

 spring, allowing at least three pseudobulbs to each piece. 

 Section II. ENCYCLIUM, of which E. atropurpureum, 

 E. nemorale and E. prismatocarpum are good examples, 

 may be grown either in pots or baskets in equal parts 

 clean peat fiber and live chopped sphagnum, with a 

 liberal amount of drainage, and excepting E. vitellinum, 

 which must be grown cool, they require a moist sunny 

 location with a winter temperature of 58 to 65 F. 

 by night and several degrees advance during the day. 

 In February and March, many species will start root or 

 growth action ; such as need it should then be repotted 

 or top-dressed, as occasion requires. The temperature 

 should be increased several degrees, and a greater 

 amount of water be allowed with frequent overhead 

 syringing on bright days. Ventilation should be given 

 whenever the weather will permit, to keep the young 

 growths from damping-off and the atmosphere active; 

 at this time the plants will need light shading to pre- 



