Epidendrum chloronanum (Orchidaceae): first record for the flora of Colombia

Abstract

Orchidaceae is a group of plants with high diversity. About a fifth of its species are registered for Colombia, mainly in the Cordillera of the Andes. More than 400 species have been reported in the department of Caquetá, 70 of them belonging to the genus Epidendrum. Here, we report for the first time the species Epidendrum chloronanum, found in the cloud forests of the eastern slope of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes, in the department of Caquetá. We categorized the species as of “Low Concern” for Colombia according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN. Finally, we propose some in situ, ex situ and circa situm conservation strategies to protect this species.