Epidendrum subsect. Spathacea

Epidendrum subsect. Spathacea Rchb.f. is a subsection of the section E. sect. Planifolia Rchb.f. 1861 of the subgenus E. subg. Epidendrum Lindl. 1841 of the genus Epidendrum Lindl. of the Orchidaceae. Like the other subsections of E. sect. Planifolia, the species of E. subsect. Spathacea are characterized by a sympodial growth habit without pseudobulbs, a lack of any spathes or sheathes covering the base of the racemose inflorescence, and by flat leaves. The species categorized in Spathacea differ from the members of the other subsections by having large floral bracts, which make the inflorescence resemble a strobilus. Reichenbach originally placed eight species in this subsection :E. bifarium Sw. on page 401E. bangii Rolfe on page 401 as E. macrostachyum Lindl. nom. illeg.E. coriifolium Lindl. on page 400E. paranaense Barb.Rodr. on page 401 as E. imbricatum Lindl. nom. illeg.E. ramosum Jacq. on page 399E. rigidum Jacq. on page 400E. strobiliferum Rchb.f. on pages 399-400 E. xylostachyum Lindl. on page 400