EPIDENDRUM RADICANS. FOOTING EPIDENDRUM. 
Class XX. GYNANDRIA.— Order I. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Qrder, ORCHIDACEiE. THE ORCHIS TRIBE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx wanting. Corolla with five oblong spreading petals. Labellum without a 
horn at the base, tubular, embracing the column, with, a broad erect plate. Column terete, placed below 
the germen, gibbous. Anthers concave. Capsule oblong, three-sided, one celled, three valved. Seeds 
numerous, extremely minute roundish. 
Specific Character. — Stem simple, leafy, throwing out a long whitish-root opposite each leaf. Leaves 
distichous, subcordately ovate, obtuse. Racemes lengthening. Flowers bright orange-scarlet. Sepals and 
petals lanceolate, acute, spreading. Lip with two erect compressed calli at the base, from between which an 
elevated ridge proceeds down the centre, three-lobed ; lateral lobes broad, rounded, toothletted at the margin, 
intermediate lobe cuneate, fimbriated, and deeply emarginate at the apex, entire on both sides. 
This elegant species belongs to that section of Epidendrum named Amphiglottium, distinguished by 
“ the long leafy stem with distichous leaves, the want of every tendency to form pseudo-bulbs, a terminal 
peduncle covered with close sheaths, and a labellum entirely united to the column.” In the recent consideration 
of this group, by l)r. Lindlev, four species besides the present are included in the same division of the sub- 
section with racemose flowers. Two of these approach our subject so narrowly in the general form, jagged 
edges, and colour of the flowers ; in possessing the two tubercular protuberances at the base of the lip, and 
an elevated plate passing between them down the centre ; that the unpractised eye might fail to detect their 
distinction. 
It is only when we descend to the minutia of botanical points, that the dissimilarity of their several 
parts becomes evident. Dr. Lindley has pointed out the following distinctions; — “ E. radicans has the 
lateral lobes of the labellum rounded and toothletted only, not lacerated, and it produces coarse pale green 
roots from its stems; E. cinnabarinum has the lateral lobes of the labellum deeply lacerated, while the central 
lobe is contracted in the middle, and then suddenly wedge-shaped, with its angles prolonged into one or two 
fine teeth. E. Schomburgkii has the lateral lobes only toothed, with the centre lobe gradually widened to 
the point, and there toothletted without being at all truncate ; the lobes of the lip are confluent in what I 
take to be a variety of that species.” To these we may add, that E. radicans produces a root upon the stem 
opposite each leaf ; whilst whatever roots issue from the stem of either of the other species, are confined to 
the lower portion, and come without any regard to the order of the foliage. 
The first plants were received in England from Guatemala, in 1839. In the summer of 1844 we saw a 
specimen blooming in the superb collection of Mrs. Lawrence, at Ealing Park, which, so far as we can learn, 
was the first that displayed its flowers in this country. Since then we have been favored with specimens by 
Mr. Brewster, gardener to Mrs. Wray, at Oakfield, Cheltenham, who has also kindly furnished us with the 
following remarks : — 
“ Mr. Skinner sent the plant to Oakfield in 1842. It commenced flowering in the beginning of 1 845, and 
has now covered a wire basket with its long stems, each crowned with a head of flowers. Mr. Skinner says 
its habit is, terrestial, growing among long grass and dried leaves. It flowers in October, November, De- 
cember, and January. It is a lovely plant ; and particularly if growing in masses, forms an object of attraction 
difficult to pass, when seen on mountain sides, and in the deep valleys.” 
The head of flowers sent us contained twenty-three expanded blossoms, much more rich and brilliant 
in colour than those of either of its two allies ; hence, we may readily imagine what a delightful object it 
must constitute in its native haunts where it grows in any considerable quantity, peeping with its flaming 
vermilion flower heads from among the green herbage ; and thrusting out its thickened roots from almost 
every inch of the stem, to suck in sustenance from the humid atmosphere, and drink the dew that settles 
upon them.* 
The beauty and variety of flowers, the fragrance and freshness which we are insensibly led to associate 
with them, have long been themes for the poet and naturalist ; but really not more so than the subject 
deserves. The endless forms in which plants appear, their adaptations to certain situations, the peculiar 
properties which many species possess, though all grow on the same soil, the wonderful metamorphoses 
which they undergo from seed to plant, and from plant and flower to seed again, not to speak of the amenity 
* Paston’s Magazine of Botany. 
