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Epidendrum × obrienianum

Rolfe (1888)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Orchidaceae Genus: Epidendrum

baby orchid, butterfly orchid, scarlet orchid

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect, terrestrial or lithophytic perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems slender, cane-like, 3-13 dm long, almost completely enclosed by the persistent sheathing leaf bases.

Roots: Roots arising singly or in groups from lower nodes of stem, covered by a conspicuous layer of grayish white velamen.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades ovate-elliptic or etliptic-oblong, 4-13 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, glabrous. Apex acute, obtuse, or occasionally retuse. Blades thick, hard and slightly fleshy, slightly conduplicate, horizontal or slightly ascending. Midrib impressed on upper surface, prominently raised on lower surface. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in erect, terminal, racemose inflorescences 15-50 cm long, peduncles slender, partly enclosed by a series of membranous, sheath-like bracts. Flowers bisexual (perfect), non-resupinate, scarlet, orange, or mauve, +/- with yellow or white markings. Sepals: dorsal sepal distinct, slightly reflexed, elliptic, 12-14 mm long, ventral sepals spreading or somewhat reflexed, irregularly obovate-elliptic, 12-14 mm long. Petals spreading, obovate, 11-13 mm long; labellum erect or ascending, adnate to ventral surface of column, 10-14 mm long, distinctly 3-lobed, margins irregularly fimbriate, apex deeply cleft into 2 lobes. Stamen 1, adnate to and surrounding the style forming a column. Ovary inferior, 3-carpellate; stigma small, unlobed.

Fruit: Capsules ellipsoid; 3-ribbed; 3-4 cm long.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Terrestrial on steep rocky slopes or rarely at the base of trees or shrubs; usually in dry habitats.

Elevation Range: 300–1,200 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Potentially Naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 3: 770 (1888)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1472 (K, O, L, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:726 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2013:18 (Mo); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:198 (remove L [no evidence of nat.]); Note: stabilized hybrid

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Epidendrum × obrienianum Growing around hula heiau next to Allerton's property Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1978-06-14
2 Epidendrum × obrienianum EastMaui, Kaapahu Parcel, east of Lost Camp LZ along trail to Cable ridge in small stream. Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2164 Maui BISH 2002-10-10
3 Epidendrum × obrienianum Trail to Ka'ala, 500m along trail below bog Wet shaded area along trail Preserved_Specimen Locally common, several hundred plants in one patch Faccenda, K. 2113 Oahu BISH 2021-09-04
4 Epidendrum × obrienianum East Maui, Koolau Forest Reserve W of Kailu Gulch Naturalized over ca. 1 acre in koa tree fern forest on tree trunks and fallen logs. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2732 Maui BISH 1987-03-03
5 Epidendrum × obrienianum Hilo, intersection of W. Lanikaula St and Kilauea Ave. Epiphyte recently fallen from tree Preserved_Specimen Flowers bright red, labellum on lower portion of flower, rooting prolifically, one clump seen Faccenda, K. 2343 Hawaii BISH 2022-03-06
6 Epidendrum × obrienianum Honolulu, Hawaii Loa Ridge trail. Open habitat; rocky gravel soil. With Casuarina, Microsorum grossus, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, sterile Euphorb. Preserved_Specimen orchid Kennedy, B. 97 Oahu BISH 2019-04-26
7 Epidendrum × obrienianum Honolulu, Lanipo Trail Rare at trails beginning. Preserved_Specimen Herb, 2.5 ft ht, flowers nonresupinate, scarlet red. Kennedy, B. 9 Oahu BISH 1995-11-21
8 Epidendrum × obrienianum Keawanui Terrestrial in windswept, short statured Metrosideros/ Dicranopteris shrubland. Vegetation: Metrosideros, Dicranopteris, Vaccinium, Machaerina, Ilex, Dodonaea, Broussaisia. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 41208 Molokai BISH 2012-04-11
9 Epidendrum × obrienianum Ewa District: Waianae Mts., Honouliuli Forest Reserve. Trail along summit from Puu Kaua to Pohakea Pass Dry ope windswept summit. Preserved_Specimen Perianth crimson; terrestrial. Lammers, T.G. 5533 Oahu BISH 1984-06-22
10 Epidendrum × obrienianum Waimea District. Kokee, Camp 10 road past Kauaikinana stream. Growing epiphytically on Metrosideros. Naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Epiphytic orchid, stems erect and brownish purple, sheaths white; leaves thick, glossy; aerial roots almnost straight, white; tepals a peachy orange color, labellum yellow Brock 932 Kauai BISH 2016-11-22
11 Epidendrum × obrienianum Summit of Mt. Kaala Mossy stump in open bog. Preserved_Specimen Herb, 0.5 m tall; flower red w/yellow lip. Gagné, W.C. 660 Oahu BISH 1972-12-02
12 Epidendrum × obrienianum Above Wilson tunnel, Kaneohe side of Koolau Mts Growing on sheet grassy cliff. Preserved_Specimen Flowers non resupinate, scarlet w/conspicuous yellow callus. Davis, J. 78 Oahu BISH 1979-01-06
13 Epidendrum × obrienianum Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way In garden bed. Preserved_Specimen Plant 2-3' tall, no pseudobulb; flowers 5 equal segments rosy-orange, lip bright-orange w/3 fringed parts. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1952-04-03
14 Epidendrum × obrienianum S Kona District, Kealakekua Ranch, Kealakekua ahupuaa road to Papaloa Roadside. Growing epiphytically on `ohi`a in pastureland. Preserved_Specimen Flowers reddish orange, abaxial side dull. Wagner, W.L. 5943 Hawaii BISH 1988-03-11
15 Epidendrum × obrienianum Kuliouou Valley, ridge W of Hawaii Kai Along trail on steep crest of ridge; in mixed grasses, strawberry guava, Schinus, etc.; in full sun. Preserved_Specimen Terrestrial 'reed-type' epidendrum, ca. 18-24 tall. Leaves distichous, firm and leathery; olive-green sometimes red tinged. Flowers w/brick red petals, lip orange-red, 1 immature capsule seen. Staples, G.W. 797 Oahu BISH 1992-03-08
16 Epidendrum × obrienianum Mau'umae Trail, about 1 km up from trailhead Growing out of an Osteomeles shrub, sunny, dry, exposed area Preserved_Specimen Rare, flowers pinkish red, labellum pointed up Faccenda, K. 2211 Oahu BISH 2022-01-23
17 Epidendrum × obrienianum Lanipo Trail, 1/8 mi beyond Maunalani Circle, Palolo-Waialae Nui In 2' brush near ridge trail. Preserved_Specimen Several 2' plants; flower vermillion. St.John, H. 26935 Oahu BISH 1979-01-07
18 Epidendrum × obrienianum Koloa district, National Tropical Botanical Garden In Lawai Valley, on facing cliffs on ridge jutting into the valley from the west, near 3 utility poles & microwave repeater station, Preserved_Specimen herb with highly branched stems sgrowing on masses of prop roots, leaves green, succulent. Flowers with tepals, labellum red with yellow center. Fruits green. Naturally local. Lorence, D.H. 9183 Kauai BISH 2004-01-15
19 Epidendrum × obrienianum Waimea Canyon State Park; cabins near Kokee Methodist Camp Preserved_Specimen Upright, with succulent leaves and sending down long, whitish aerial roots. Sepals and petals orange; lip yellow. Flynn, T.W. 2045 Kauai BISH 1986-12-30
20 Epidendrum × obrienianum East Maui, Kaapahu Parcel, east of Lost Camp LZ along trail to Cabel ridge in small stream. Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2164 Maui BISH 2002-10-10
21 Epidendrum × obrienianum Oahu Ave. and Kaala St., home of E. M. Ehrhorn Preserved_Specimen Flower orange-red, diam. 1 1/4 in. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1940-04-07
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