Orchidaceae
Encyclia
Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Genus Parent: Orchidaceae Status: Valid
Morphological Description
Diagnosis:
Distinguished by having ovoid fibrous pseudobulbs with slender, very leathery leaves. The resupinate flowers have the lips firmly appressed to the column but without any fusion of the parts. They were previously included in Epidendrum, a genus where the column is fused to the lip for its length. Encyclia, in turn, previously included species of Prosthechea, which differ by having elongate, non-fibrous pseudobulbs and non-resupinate flowers.
1
1'
2
2'
Vegetative Morphology
Habit: Caespitose or trailing-creeping epiphytes, lithophytes, and terrestrials. Pseudobulbs subglobose to cylindric, fibrous, subtended by several papery bracts.
Leaves: Leaves 1--3, elongate, linear to narrowly oblong-elliptic, very leathery, green or green suffused with purple.
Reproductive Morphology
Inflorescence: Inflorescences terminal pedunculate racemes or more commonly panicles, usually far surpassing the leaves, the floral bracts papery, inconspicuous.
Flowers: Flowers commonly green to brown, usually pleasantly fragrant, long-lasting. Sepals and petals subsimilar, subequal, free, spreading, often clawed, the petals frequently spatulate. Lip three-lobed, partially fused to the column base, the lateral lobes usually erect with recurved apices, the midlobe +/- clawed, usually broad, the callus longitudinal parallel ridges. Column semiterete, usually winged, without foot; pollinia 4, on slender caudicles.