Epidendrum fulgens
Epidendrum fulgens is a crucifix orchid native to Brazil. Like "E. secundum", with which it has been found to hybridize in habitats disturbed by human activity, "E. fulgens" flowers are non-resupinate and are born in a congested racime at the end of a long spike. Like all crucifix orchids, the lip is adnate to the column and bears three lobes, producing the effect of a cross. Like E. cinnabarinum, E. denticulatum, and E. puniceoluteum (also Brazilian members of subsection carinata), E. fulgens grows in the litoral restinga habitat. The specific epithet, "fulgens", is the present participle of  the Latin verb "fulgere" "to shine, to glow" and refers to the brilliant yellow-orange flowers with red spots on the yellow lip. Distinguishing characteristics. "E. fulgens" has a noticeably wider angle (nearly 180°) between the lateral sepals than most of the crucifix orchids, as well as a noticeably narrower angle (little more than 90°) between the petals. The yellow lip bears striking red spots in two lines near the callus. The roots are produced mostly near the bottom of the stem. "E. fulgens" is easily distinguished from "E. radicans" and "E. ibaguense" by its non-resupinate flowers . Perhaps the most noticeable difference between "E. fulgens" and "E. secundum" is the callus: "E. fulgens" has a small keel in front of the column, flanked by two calli, whereas "E. secundum" has a single, much larger callus in front of the column. Additionally, "E. fulgens" is not found in the mountainous habitat where "E. secundum" usually grows. "E. fulgens" differs from "E. puniceoluteum" and "E. cinnabarinum" by having slightly smaller yellow-orange flowers with a yellow lip, instead of bright red. The chromosome number of "E. fulgens" has been determined by two separate investigators as 2"n" = 24 This  number differs from "E. puniceoluteum" (with 52), "E. secundum" (with 28—80), "E. cinnabarinum" (with 240), "E. radicans" (with 40—64), and "E. ibaguense" (with 70). Occurrence. "E. fulgens" grows in the restinga vegetation near the Atlantic shore from Rio de Janeiro in the north to Rio Grande do Sul in the south, at a typical elevation of 10 m.