Encyclia androsiana Sauleda 2012
Photo/drawing by © Ruben Sauleda and his New World Orchidaceae Website
Common Name The Andros Island Encyclia
Flower Size .8" [2 cm]
Found in the Bahamas on Andros Island at low elevations as a small to medium sized, hot growing epiphyte with erect, clustered, ovate pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, stiff, linear to linear-lanceolate, acute leaf that blooms in the spring and summer on a terminal, erect, slender, peduncle distantly several bracted, to 10.4" [26 cm] long overall, to 15 flowered inflorescence
"Encyclia androsiana grows sympatrically with three Encyclia species: Encyclia tampensis, Encyclia fehlingii and Encyclia withneri . It differs from E. tampensis in having the side lobes of the labellum obtuse, flat and not tightly clasping the column and the labellum is basally adnate to the column. In E. tampensis the side lobes are acute clasping the column and the lip is free from the column. Encyclia androsiana differs from E. fehlingii mainly in the termination of the callosity under the column. In E. fehlingii the callosity ends in three equal lobes, while in E. androsiana it ends in two equal lobes. It differs from E. withneri principally in the lack of ridges on the disc of the labellum. Encyclia withneri has three prominent ridges extending on to the disc." Text by Ruben Sauleda
Similar to E tampensis but this one differs in that the "side lobes of the labellum are obtuse, flat and usually do not clasp the column. They tend to flatten out away from the column. The labellum is basally adnate to the column for 2-3 mm. This character is rare in Encyclia and has never been observed in E. tampensis. The callus under the column is thicker and the column is much shorter and wider than what is usual in E. tampensis, E. fehlingii or E. withneri. A few days after the flower opens the labellum tends to turn yellow. The plants are smaller than the average plant of E. tampensis. The inflorescences are much shorter and carry fewer flowers. The midlobe of the labellum lacks the ridges found in E. withneri." Text by Ruben Sauleda
Synonyms
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * New World Orchidaceae Sauleda 2012 drawing/photo fide;
Orchid DIgest Vol 77 #3 2013 photo fide;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------