Epidendrum/Encyclia??????

[Baz in Oz]

I recently bought an orchid as Epi. tempense. On having a look for what sort of flower I could expect via Google, things started to get confusing.
Epi. tampese started to get mixed with Encyclia tempense and Encyclia tampensis and the flowers appear identical.
Are these all the same plant?

Baz.

[nancy]

Hi Baz -
Yes, they are the same plant. And might possibly be Prosthechea tampense by now.
Named for the city of Tampa, FL
Cheers - Nancy

[Baz in Oz]

Thank you for that info Nancy. I thought I may have had to make a trip to my optometrist for new glasses. Apart from the bit about Prosthechea, which is the correct name?

Baz

[nancy]

Hi Baz - I'm not sure which genus name is in favor now (and, the American Orchid Society, Kew, and Australian OC may regard different ones as correct).
Somebody on this board will know where to find the latest, I'd bet.
One of my first orchids was Epi. atropurpureum - within the first 10 months I'd had it, it ran through Enc. cordigera and Prosthechea cordigera - so I've started just keeping the original name, if only so I know what it is. I try to add the more recent names to my files, but sometimes it changes waaay faster than I can update!
Good luck - it will make your head spin.
Cheers - Nancy

[Baz in Oz]

Thanks again for your info Nancy.
As for my head spinning, I am lucky in that I don't need confusing orchid names to achieve that; I can gat the same effect by standing up quickly.

Baz

[Royal]

The tag should say Encyclia tampensis. Many Encyclias used to be Epidendrum, but Enc. was separated from Epi. Prosthechea have "upside down" flowers (non-resupinate).

Epidendrum used to be a catch all genus for any epiphytic orchid. Even Phal. amabilis was first described as Epidendrum amabile.

[Baz in Oz]

Thanks Royal, it looks like that one is sorted out.

Baz

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Baz in Oz

Thanks Royal, it looks like that one is sorted out.

Baz

for now... You know those wacky taxonomists. "Publish or perish."