About Epidendrum fulgens Brongn.
Epidendrum fulgens Brongn. has several key distinguishing characteristics among crucifix orchids. Compared to most crucifix orchids, it has a much wider angle between its lateral sepals, which is nearly 180°, and a much narrower angle between its petals, which is just over 90°. Its yellow lip has prominent red spots arranged in two lines close to the callus. Most of its roots grow near the base of the stem. E. fulgens can be easily told apart from E. radicans and E. ibaguense by its non-resupinate flowers. The most noticeable difference between E. fulgens and E. secundum is in the callus: E. fulgens has a small keel in front of the column, with two calli flanking it, while E. secundum has a single, much larger callus in front of the column. Additionally, E. fulgens does not grow in the mountainous habitat that E. secundum typically occupies. E. fulgens differs from E. puniceoluteum and E. cinnabarinum by bearing slightly smaller yellow-orange flowers with a yellow lip, rather than bright red flowers. Two separate investigators have confirmed that the chromosome number of E. fulgens is 2n = 24. This chromosome count differs from that of related species: E. puniceoluteum has 52, E. secundum has 28 to 80, E. cinnabarinum has 240, E. radicans has 40 to 64, and E. ibaguense has 70.
