Encyclia tampensis (Encyclia from Greek - enkykleoma "to encircle" and tampensis - "Tampa") or Butterfly Orchid is a species of flowering plant in the Orchid family, subfamily Epidendroideae.

Range

Native to Florida and nearby islands including Cuba and the Bahamas,^[2] E. tampensis is an epiphyte commonly found growing on mangroves, Bald Cypress and oaks in hardwood swamps and hammocks.^[3]

Despite being Florida's most common native orchid,^[4] they are a protected species and collection from the wild is prohibited without a permit.^[5] This species was first described by John Torrey in 1846.^[6]

Description

This Encyclia species grows from grey to green 7 cm pseudobulbs with narrow foliage up to 16 cm in length and 2 cm in width. Mature plants produce a branched inflorescence containing several flowers with green to bronze sepals and petals surrounding a white lip with a purple dot. Flowers are alternate, 2.5 cm in diameter and fragrant. Many variations in color and markings exist in the wild where natural hybridization occurs.

The diploid chromosome number of E. tampensis has been determined as 2n = 40; the haploid chromosome number as n = 20.^[7]

Notes