Epidendrum subgenus Aulizeum was raised from sectional status by Lindley in 1853. According to the Latin diagnosis, this taxon included those species of Epidendrum with a multi-lobate lip adnate to the column, with pseudobulbous stems, with the flowers sessile or born on racemes or panicles. In his further English description, Lindley stated that the species in this taxon have a horn-like stem which is only leafy at the end, and racemose inflorescences. In 1861, Reichenbach listed 32 species in this subgenus; of these, Kew recognizes 31 as separate species.