Envoy at 06:29, 26 June 2007

2007-06-26T06:29:30Z

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:''Encyclia'' is also a Greek term for the [[Codex Encyclius]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Encyclia''
| image = Encyclia ceratistes.jpg
| image_width = 250 px
| image_caption = ''Encyclia ceratistes''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Epidendroideae]]
| tribus = [[Epidendreae]]
| subtribus = [[Laeliinae]]
| alliance = Cattleya
| genus = '''''Encyclia'''''
| genus_authority = [[William Jackson Hooker|Hook.]]
| genus authority date = 1828
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See [[List of Encyclia species|List of Encyclia species and hybrids]]
| type_species = ''Encyclia viridiflora''
| type_species_authority = [[William Jackson Hooker|Hook.]] Bot. Mag. 55: t. 2831 (1828)
}}

'''''Encyclia''''' is a [[genus]] of [[orchid]]s. The genus name comes from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''enkykleomai'' ("to encircle"), referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. The abbreviation in the horticultural trade is '''Encycl.'''

The [[epiphyte|epiphytic]] genus occurs in Florida, Bahamas, West Indies, Mexico and tropical America in forests in lowlands and at altitudes to 1000 m. The distribution of the species is more or less evenly spread throughout this area.

The terminal leaves grow from thickened [[pseudobulb]]s. The flowers arise from an apical inflorescence. This genus is [[pollination|pollinated]] by bees and birds. There are normally eight pollinia, but in some subgroups this is reduced to four.

==Taxonomy==
Cladistic research has shown that ''Encyclia'' sensu stricto is [[monophyletic]]. This genus was originally included in ''[[Epidendrum]]'' until [[William Jackson Hooker|Hooker]] separated it from that genus in 1828.

The genera ''[[Euchile]]'', ''[[Prosthechea]]'' and ''[[Dinema]]'' were separated from ''Encyclia'', based on a morphological analysis (Higgins, 1997)

The genus '''''Sulpitia''''' [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz|Raf.]] is a [[synonymy|synonym]] of ''Encyclia''.

There are a number of intergeneric hybrids with ''Encyclia''. Most intergeneric hybrids using ''Encyclia'' species used the Genus ''Epidendrum'' for naming. This has recently changed.

''Encyclia tampensis'' (Lindl.) Small, is the common "Butterfly Orchid" of peninsular Florida. It also occurs in the Bahamas & Cuba. It has an unusual beauty and has proven to be of exceptional value in orchid hybridizing.

== Reference ==
* Wesley E. Higgins, Cássio van den Berg, and W. Mark Whitte''nc -'' A Combined Molecular Phylogeny of Encyclia (Orchidaceae) and Relationships within Laeliinae; Selbyana Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 165–179.

[[Category:Orchid genera]]

Encyclia - Revision history

Envoy at 06:29, 26 June 2007