Encyclia prismatocarpa

File:Panarica prismatocarpa.jpg

Panarica prismatocarpa (not my photo)

Common Name: The Prism-Shaped Seedpod Panarica
Scented: yes
Light Requirements: partial shade
Temperature Requirements: intermediate to cool
Blooms: spring to autumn
Flower Size: 5cm
Synonyms: Encyclia prismatocarpa (Rchb. f.) Dressler 1961; Epidendrum maculatum hort.; *Epidendrum prismatocarpum Rchb. f. 1852; Epidendrum uro-Skinneri hort.; Prosthechea prismatocarpa (Rchb. f.) W.E. Higgins 1997; Pseudencyclia prismatocarpa (Rchb.f.) V.P.Castro & Chiron 2003

Found in Mexico and Central America in lower montane cloud forests on larger tree branches, this large-sized species has elongate, conic pseudobulbs partially enveloped basally by a few scarious sheaths and carrying 2 to 3 apical, oblong-elliptic, basally conduplicate and clasping leaves and provides bright, long lasting, fragrant flowers in the spring, summer and autumn on an apical, erect, to 37.5cm 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.

Similar to P. neglecta but differs in the epiphytic habit, shorter pseudobulbs, a dense inflorescence, no apically swelling to the ovary, larger fragrant flowers and glabrous sepals on the dorsal side.

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