(1921) Epidendrum catillus is an epiphytic orchid native to Colombia (where the type was collected), Ecuador and Peru at altitudes ranging from 0.8 km to 1.6 km.

[2] Like other members of this subgenus, E. catillus has thin stems which show no tendency to produce pseudobulbs, covered with tight, tubular sheathes which bear distichous leaves on the upper part of the stem, a long apical peduncle covered from its base with tight tubular sheathes, and a lip which is adnate to the column to its apex.

The flowers are red to violet and white, and open fully.

The oblong sepals are grow to 1.5 cm long, the petals are somewhat smaller.

Tuberculata, the lip margins are crenulate to lacerate, and the lip bears an irregularly-shaped tubercule; in this species, the large tubercule extends much of the way down the medial lobe and into the lateral lobes, is mostly white, and is accompanied by two small colored calli, one on either side of the column apex.