The reed-like stems arise from a rhizome. Epi. radicans and Epi. ibaguense have lax stems that ramble, the stems of Epi. cinnabarinum are tall and arching and the stems of Epi. secundum are upright.  With the flowers closely packed at the top of the inflorescence, reed-stems provide almost continuous color…if you give them a half day or longer of sunlight, a moist medium of potting soil and orchid mix, time-release fertilizer and a healthy dose of benign neglect. They are sort of the geraniums of the orchid world.

Orchid flowers have three colored sepals and two plain petals collectively called tepals. The third petal is the lip or labellum which is usually flamboyant to attract pollinators. When the orchid bud is forming, the labellum is always the uppermost petal.

Most orchids are resupinate—the ovary twists through 180 degrees so that once the flower is fully open the labellum is the lowest petal. But the photographed Epidendrum is nonresupinate; the ovary never twists so the labellum is held aloft.

 

(Compiled from: Hortus Third, Staff L.H. Bailey Hortorium, NY State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Macmillan, NY, 1976; “Reed-Stem Epidendrums”, Andy Phillips and Cynthia Hill, Orchids, American Orchid Society, September, 1998; and personal experience)