Encyclia parviflora

Common Name: Small-flowered Encyclia

Native to: Mexico south to Nicaragua. It grows mostly on trees although it is occasionally found growing as a terrestrial orchid. Encyclia parviflora grows in dry forests on the eastern coast between 100 and 800 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Medium

Flower Size: 1.5 inches (4 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers are similar to Encyclia alata. This species has fragrant flower that bloom on a 18 inch (40 cm) flower spike.

Bloom Season: Late Spring to early Summer

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: Grow mounted on cork and provide bright light and warm growing conditions.

Synonyms: Encyclia alata ssps. parviflora; Encyclia belizensis ssps. parviflora; Epidendrum alatum var parviflorum

Photo courtesy of Abundaflora.

Encyclia papillosa

Encyclia papillosa

Common Name: Butterfly Encyclia

Native to: Belize to Nicaragua. Encyclia papillosa grows on trees in warm forests from 30 to 1000 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Medium

Flower Size: Medium

Flower Description: The flowers of Encyclia papillosa resemble butterflies. Flowers are well-displayed on a long, arching inflorescence.

Bloom Season: Spring

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: This common species is easy to grow on cork bark mounts. Provide Encyclia papillosa typical cattleya growing conditions with additional humidity and warmth.

Synonyms: Epidendrum papillosum
Photo courtesy of Abundaflora.

Encyclia pachyantha

Encyclia pachyantha

Common Name: Fleshy-flowered Encyclia

Native to: French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil

Plant Size: Large. Encyclia pachyantha is one of the largest members of the genus and has 4 inch (10 cm) tall pseudobulbs. Each growth has two 18 inch (50 cm) long leaves.

Flower Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Encyclia pachyantha are olive-green with a wash of rusty-brown towards the tips. The lip is straw colored and has reddish veins. Flowers are borne on a stiff, upright stem that may be branched or unbranched and extends beyond the leaves.

Bloom Season: Summer

Growing Temperature: Intermediate

Additional Information: This species is one of the largest in the Encyclia genus and the plants grow even larger than Encyclia oncidioides. Grow on tree fern or cork slabs and water frequently during dry weather and when actively growing. The flowers are large and attractive and the plants will grow into impressive specimens over time.

Synonyms: Epidendrum pachyanthum, Encyclia alboxanthina, Epidensrum pachyanthum, Encyclia hartwegii

Encyclia osmantha

Encyclia osmantha

Common Name: Capart's Scented Encyclia

Native to: Brazil. Encyclia osmantha is found growing in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais from Casa de Pedra to St. Jose d'El-Rey.

Plant Size: Medium. The pseudobulbs of Encyclia osmantha produce two leaves.

Flower Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Flower Description: The petals and sepals of Encyclia osmantha are brown suffused with greenish-yellow. The lip is white and has magenta veins. Fragrant. The flowers are cupped, waxy and long-lasting (up to 2 months).

Bloom Season: Spring?

Growing Temperature: Intermediate

Additional Information: This species is available from orchid growers and at orchid shows and is loved for its flower size and fragrance. There are a few named clones. Grow mounted on cork bark or tree fern mounts. Grow under standard cattleya conditions and provide ample water and fertilizer during periods of active growth. Attractive and satisfying.

Synonyms: Epidendrum osmanthum, Epidendrum capartianum, Epidendrum godseffianum

Encyclia oncidioides

Encyclia oncidioides

Common Name: Oncidium-like Encyclia

Native to: Brazil, Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela. Encyclia oncidioides frequently is found growing as a terrestrial in white sand in northern Brazil. It is thought that its preferred habitats were former lake beds.

Plant Size: Large. The upright pseudobulbs of Encyclia oncidioides are upright and grow to 4 inches (9-10 cm). Each growth produces up to 4 long, broad leaves (37 cm x 3 cm). There is more than the usual amount of space between pseudobulbs.

Flower Size: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Flower Description: The inflorescence grows to 32 inches (90 cm) long and is branched. Individual branches are short and have many flowers. Petals and sepals are spoon-shaped. The creamy white or yellow lip is small and spade shaped and has magenta or red markings. Encyclia oncidioides has a strong, floral scent that is reminiscent of violets or roses.

Bloom Season: May to August (June and July are peak bloom months).

Growing Temperature: Intermediate

Additional Information: Encyclia oncidioides is the largest species in the genus and the plants are vigorous growers. Grow in a coarse, open media in a wide, shallow pot (i.e. bulb pan) or mount on cork. Use a large mount because the pseudobulbs like to ramble and are not tightly clustered like many other members of the genus. Provide Cattleya growing conditions with adequate air circulation. Water and fertilize during periods of active growth. Attractive and easy to grow. There are many species that were once lumped together under this name so the plant you buy may vary some from the above description.

Synonyms: Epidendrum ensiforme, Epidendrum oncidioides, Epidendrum longiolium, Epidendrum oncidioides sensu, Encyclia longifolia, Encyclia ensiformis, Encyclia vellozoana

Encyclia oestlundii

Encyclia oestlundii

Common Name: Oestlund's Encyclia

Native to: Mexico. Encyclia oestlundii grows on trees in dry coastal areas near sea level in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

Plant Size: Medium

Flower Size: 1.75 inches (2 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Encyclia oestlundii bloom on an upright inflorescence. There are several flowers open at one time. Fragrant.

Bloom Season: Spring to Summer

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: Grow Encyclia oestlundii mounted on cork bark or tree branch mounts for best results. Provide typical Cattleya growing conditions with additional heat. Keep on the dry side when new growth matures.

Synonyms: Epidendrum oestlundii

Encyclia nematocaulon

Encyclia nematocaulon

Common Name: Thread-Stemmed Encyclia

Native to: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Cuba. It grows on scrub vegetation and trees in tropical deciduous forests below 200 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Small to Medium. The tightly-clustered pseudobulbs have only one leaf.

Flower Size: 1.25 inches (3 cm)

Flower Description: Flowers of Encyclia nematocaulon are produced on the previous season's growth on branched inflorescence. Up to 14 flowers bloom at once and they are displayed well above the leaves.

Bloom Season: Late Spring

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: Provide warm growing conditions and grow mounted on tree fern or cork bark mounts.

Synonyms: Encyclia purpusii; Encyclia xipheres; Epidendrum nematocaulon ; Epidendrum xipheres; Epidendrum yucatanense

Encyclia naranjapatensis

Encyclia naranjapatensis

Common Name: Naranjapata Encyclia

Native to: Ecuador. Encyclia naranjapatensis is endemic to a limited area of the southern Ecuadorian highlands in the provinces of Bolivar and Canar. Its habitat is in the rain shadow of the mountains and can be found growing between 700 and 1300 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Large. The onion-shaped pseudobulbs grow to 3 inches (7 cm) tall and have two or three long, upright leaves that grow to 24 inches (60 cm).

Flower Size: 1.25 inches (3 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Encyclia naranjapatensis are large and full. Green suffused with brown in the dominant petal color. The margin is lighter in color. The white lip has a few red stripes and is somewhat broader than the petals. The branched flower spike grow to 24 inches (60 cm) tall.

Bloom Season: Late Winter to Summer

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: Encyclia naranjapatensis was named after a town close to the collection location that had a large orange tree. Grow mounted on cork slabs or grow in a slatted basket. Grow under standard Cattleya orchid conditions. Let it dry out during the winter and in between waterings and watch for fungal problems.

Synonyms: Encyclia strobelii

Encyclia mooreana

Encyclia mooreana

Common Name: Moore's Encyclia

Native to: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama. Encyclia mooreana grows on larger tree branches in mountainous cloud forests between 270 and 2100 meters in elevation.

Plant Size: Medium. The pear-shaped pseudobulbs have two or three fleshy leaves that grow to 20 inches (50 cm).

Flower Size: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Flower Description: Fragrant. The flowers of Encyclia mooreana smell like honey. The flowers are attractive and are light in color with distinctive markings. The flower stem is heavily branched and grows from 20 inches to 6 feet (50-200 cm). Flower stems develop from freshly matured pseudobulbs.

Bloom Season: Late Spring to Early Summer.

Growing Temperature: Warm

Additional Information: It is clear to see from the appearance of the flowers that Encyclia mooreana is closely related to Encyclia oncidioides.

Synonyms: Encyclia brenesii; Encyclia oncidioides var. mooreana; Encyclia tonduziana; Epidendrum mooreanum; Epidendrum oncidioides var. mooreanum; Epidendrum tonduzianum

Encyclia microxanthina

Encyclia microxanthina

Common Name: Small Yellow Encyclia Orchid

Native to: Brazil and Paraguay. Encyclia microxanthina was described from plants that were sent from Brazil. Little is known about their native habitat but it is thought that they grow on rocks like rupicolous Laelias.

Plant Size: Miniature. The pear-shaped pseudobulbs grow to 4 cm tall and have one or two succulent, fleshy leaves which grow to 7 inches (18 cm) high.

Flower Size: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Flower Description: The flowers of Encyclia microxanthina are yellowish-olive in color and the lip is cadmium yellow with orange veins. The petals and sepals are narrow the flower has a "star-shaped" appearance. Flowers are borne on a simple, unbranched inflorescence and there are between 3 and 5 flowers per stem.

Bloom Season: Summer?

Growing Temperature: Intermediate

Additional Information: This species was first described from plants that were confiscated from an illegal shipment into the United States. The plants bloomed at the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum and it was discovered that it was a new species. I doubt that this species is available in the trade but it probably could be grown in an inorganic growing medium (i.e. Aliflor) in clay pots like rupicolous Laelias.

Synonyms: None.