Epidendrum lacustre (the "lake Epidendrum) is a sympodial orchid which is known to grow both epiphytically and lithophytically in the cloud forests and rainforests of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela at altitudes ranging from 1.2—2.5 km.

[1] The type of this species was found growing "on half-submerged rotten trees" in a Venezuelan marsh at an altitude of 2.4 km.

Spathium by Reichenbach; as is typical of plants in this subgenus, E. lacustre stems are unswollen and covered by sheathes which bear distichous leaves on the upper part of the stem, and end in one or more apical spathes, through which the inflorescence erupts.

The .3—.4 m long peduncle grows from a double, scimitar-shaped spathe, and bears the large (to 8 cm across) flowers near the end in an almost umbellate raceme.

The callus consists of two pointed lumps just beyond the column, separated by a 4 cm long raised keel.