| Positive | Monocromatico | On Nov 18, 2003, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:The genus Encyclia is a large tropical genus that gets often confused with Epidendrum, being separated from it mainly because of the free lip or labellum (in Epidendrum, the lip is fused with the column, the sexual organs). Many species of Encyclia have brown flowers, some fragrant, some not. This is one of the brown and non fragrant ones (at least, it didnīt have any smell at the moment I saw it).
The flower is 5cm across, big for Encyclias, with brown (sometimes with a reddish accent) petals and sepals. The labellum is white with pink stripes that contrast with the formal brown petals. The long inflorescences bear 5-15 flowers
It needs high temperatures, and light shade. Itīs an epiphytic, so plant it on bark bits or fiber, or on a tree if you can keep it from the cold. Water it frequently.
A fine piece for orchid collectors. But be careful when byuing it, because many plants on the market are taken from the natural habitat (like most orchids, unfortunately). Be sure the nursery, orchidarium or whatever is repoducing this plant by their own. |
