~Encyclia prismatocarpa (Rchb. f.) Dressler 1961 See Panarica prismatocarpa [Rchb.f] Withner & Harding 2004 Photo courtesy ofEric Hunt, plant grown by Hanging Gardens

Inflorescence Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl, plant grown by Miramar Orchids

Plant and Flowers Photo courtesy of Joseph Dougherty

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Common Name The Prismatic Seedpod Encyclia

Flower Size 2" [5 cm]

Found in Mexico and Central America in lower montane cloud forests on larger tree branches, this large-sized species has elongate, conic pseudobulbs with 2 to 3 oblong-elliptic leaves and provides bright, long lasting, fragrant flowers in the spring, summer and fall on an apical, erect, to 15" [37.5 cm] long, densly to loosely, few to many [6 to 35] flowered raceme subtended by a papery basal sheath and arising on a newly matured pseudobulb with longlasting waxy, fragrant flowers. Very striking! Grows as a warm to cool epiphytic orchid with moderate light and is found at altitudes of 1200 to 2500 meters.