Epidendrum flexuosum

Epidendrum flexuosum, a reed-stemmed Epidendrum common at mid-altitudes in Central America, is a species of orchid commonly called Epidendrum imatophyllum. It grows exposed to intense sunlight in the forest canopy,as Epidendrum imatophyllum in particularly on Guava species. E. flexuosum bears non-resupinate lavender flowers on a congested raceme at the end of a long peduncle. In the wild, Epidendrum flexuosum grows naturally together with a nest of ants,Alec M. Pridgeon, The Illustrated encyclopedia of orchids p. 121, Timber Press, 1992 – as Epidendrum imatophyllum Lindley and sometimes bees, wasps, or hornets,The super-nettles. A dermatologist's guide to ants-in-the-plants in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database – as Epidendrum imatophyllum Lindley which protect it from predators. This species is very difficult to grow without the ants, a phenomenon found in other genera such as Caularthron, Coryanthes, and Sievekingia.

No narrative description available for this taxon yet.