Encyclia altissima

Encyclia altissima Schltr., Orchideen (Schlechter) 207 (1914).

Encyclia altissima Schltr., Photo by Jarbas Nobre

its native range is Bahamas to Hispaniola. 

Latin Name: 

Encyclia altissima Schltr.

Family: 

Orchidaceae Juss.

Synonym:

Encyclia hodgeana Beckner

Epidendrum hodgeanum A.D.Hawkes

English Name:

The Very Tall Encyclia (A reference to the plant height).

Description: 

With upright, reddish, tall pseudobulbs carrying 2 to 3 apical, erect, stiff leaves from which the plant blooms in the late winter on a terminal, erect, paniculate, several to many (to 200) flowered, 3 to 4 m long, twining inflorescence with super fragrant, highly variable flowers reminiscent of honey and beeswax.

Distribution:

Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, Turks-Caicos Is..

Ecological:

In xerophytic, low woody, bushy and cacti coppices at the base of trees and the roots anchored onto it and into the coral below at elevations under 10 meters as a giant sized, hot to warm growing litho-epiphyte.

Flowering times:

Blooms in the late winter.

Flower size:

5.0 cm.

Cultivation:

Light:  

Bright to Full Sun; 2750-3750 Footcandles (midday shade required) 

Temperature:

Warm to Intermediate;60°F min. to 90°F max.

Watering:

Moist/Dry; 2-4 waterings per week(let dry between waterings)

Type Information:

Uses:

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: While there are no medicinal uses of Encyclia altissima like all orchids they are prized for their beautiful flowers.

Reference: 

theplantlist.org

https://www.ipni.org/n/90682-2

http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:90682-2

http://www.orchidspecies.com/encaltissima.htm. 

http://levypreserve.org/Plant-Listings/Encyclia-altissima

https://andysorchids.com/pictureframe.asp?PicId=7899