Euchile mariae -- species description

Euchile mariae (Ames) Withner 1998

Synonyms:

Basionym: Epidendrum mariae Ames
Encyclia mariae (Ames) Hoehne

Common name(s): Marie's Euchile
Derivation/Pronunciation: yu-KI-leeMAR-ee-ay
Genus name hails from the Encyclia section from whence it was elevated, with the Greek Eu prefix meaning "true" and chilo meaning "lip." The species name refers to the first European grower to bloom the plant in captivity.
Plant: Epiphytic, pendant; a smallish plant with clustered, conic-ovoid pseudobulbs (2-4cm) with 2-3 elliptic-oblong leaves (to 2.8 x 9-18cm) at apex.
Flowers: Inflorescence reaches up to 20cm, frequently shorter, and bears two to four blooms per spike. The large, softly ruffled white lip, with prominent green veins, is the most striking feature of the flower. The lip encircles the column. Petals and sepals are olive green. See illustrations below.
Bloomtimes: Late winter to spring.
Habitat: It occurs on the eastern side of the Sierra Madre Oriental, from 1000-2000m in dry oak forest, between the coastal plains (to the east) and the peaks which give rise to the Mexican Central High Plateau. The eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre are composed of many narrow and step-sided valleys (often running north-south) composed of mostly sedimentary rock.
Distribution: Northeastern Mexico (Hidalgo, San Lous Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz). The Sierra Madre Oriental extends about 700 miles (1,120 km) north to south, roughly paralleling the Gulf of Mexico, whose warm waters strongly influence the warm climate of the lower elevations. The Sierra Madre merges into the Cordillera Neo-Volcánica to the south.

Culture: Bright light (grow with Cattleya) and plenty of air movement; give ample water, but let dry between waterings; temperature tolerant, but does best when on the cool side of intermediate. Grows best mounted or in slat basket, but can be trained to an open bark mixture in pot. For most effective flowering, give it a dry cool rest for a couple of months in the winter after the growths mature.

The flowers are very large and showy compared to the relatively small size of the plants.

Photo by Joseph Dougherty of a plant grown by Dr. Brent Martin.

References:

The Cattleyas and Their Relatives vol. 5; Carl L. Withner; Timber Press 1998. pg.137-140.
Manual of Cultivated Orchid Species; Bechtel, Cribb & Launert; MIT press 1992. pg. 181.
An Introduction to the Orchids of Mexico; Leon A. Wiard; Cornell Univ. 1987. pg. 61.
The Genus Encyclia in Mexico; Dressler & Pollard; Asociacion Mexicana de Orquideologia 1976. pg. 80.
Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids; Alex D. Hawkes; Faber & Faber 1965; pg. 188

Last Modified: May 30, 2002 by Joseph Dougherty

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