Encyclia has Pretty Blooms but no I.D.
 

I rescued about 10 chids from my ex-husband last December. This encyclia was among the healthiest of the batch but it didn't have a tag and the ex doesn't recall her name. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated? Her blooms are fragrant.

For sure a caribean species (or hybrid) my first feeling was Encyclia phoenicea. Not 100% sure as literature is confusing compared to what one can find on the internet.
And Encyclias always are variable. Last but not least some people think they need to make artificial hybrids where the natural hybridisation already made a mes.

Does it smell like chocolate / vanilla?

Nice site to see some Encyclias

Encyclia and Related Species and Hybrids

The Enc. cordigeras are in bloom here for most of the people that I know. It might be a cordigera.

Looks like encyclia cordigera to me. Very nice!

I agree that it looks like cordigera but I'm also pretty sure it isn't the shape of the lip is different and also most cordigeras have more flexed petals and sepals.

If it's a hybrid it might include cordigera as a parent.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'm pretty sure it's a cordigera hybrid. I saw a photo of an alata x cordigera that was a close match.

Rob, the fragrance is nothing like chocolate or vanilla, or honey even. It's kind of hard to describe. The scent is rather sharp and "perfume like", but not overwhelming. I might get a different impression when all the buds open and have a few days to mature. It's allergy season and my sense of smell is a little off.

sorry for oftopic, but thanks a lot for the source!

Maybe E. Nursery Rhyme?

Funny that you'd guess that one. I have another enc. that ready to bloom and it's a Enc. Nursery Rhyme x rufum. This will be the first time the plant has bloomed for me and I can hardly wait. The noid in the photo only produced a 15" spike with 5 buds. The Nursery Rhyme x rufum has about 100 buds on a 3' spike. It should be a knock out if the weevils don't attack it. :biggrin:

Enc cordigera var rosea..I say..'n indeed the encyclia blooms are all cuties ...glad you rescued them plants :)