Pine-cone epidendrum

Spathiger strobiliferus (Reichenbach f.) Small

Plants creeping to pendent, to 30 cm. Roots basal or from proximal branches, 0.5–1.5 mm. Stems 1, compressed distally, branched, to 23 cm. Leaves 2–8, near apex of stem; petiole 6–8 mm; blade lanceolate-elliptic, 2-lobed, 1–2.8 × 0.3–0.7 cm, leathery. Inflorescences from branches, distichous, imbricate, usually pendent, 10–17 mm; peduncle greater than 5 mm. Flowers 1–4, usually 3, with underside of lip always facing rachis, not resupinate, simultaneous, pale yellow, occasionally marked with reddish; dorsal sepals ovate, apex acute; lateral sepals obdolabriform, somewhat wider at base, 3–5.4 × 1.2–2.1 mm; petals linear-elliptic, somewhat falcate, 3–5.2 × 0.5–0.8 mm; lip triangular-ovate, 3–4 × 2–2.4 mm, base with pair of lamellae, apex acute to acuminate; column 2 mm, with prominent tooth on each side, 2 smaller ones distally; anther ovoid, 2-fid; ovary with small swollen vesicle underneath, behind lateral sepals, 4 mm, covered by conduplicate, subimbricating bracts, 6–7.5 mm. Capsules ovoid-ellipsoid, 9–10 × 5–6 mm; pedicel and beak absent.

Flowering Oct--Nov, Mar. On smooth barked trees in and around cypress swamps and heads; 0--30 m; Fla.; Central America; South America.

Epidendrum strobiliferum grows throughout the Neotropics to Peru and Brazil.