Encyclia cochleata AKA Prosthechea cochleata
Naples Orchid Society’s Annual Show
Naples, FL USA
Held At Naples Botanical Gardens
Click on Image for More Details.
Not the prettiest of orchids,, but in the United States, the Encyclia cochleata can only be found in southern Florida in several wildlife preserves close to where I live. The orchid is a species meaning a natural occurring plant found in nature and not combined with another orchid. This orchid is also on the Highly Endangered List.
Prosthechea cochleata, formerly known as Encyclia cochleata and Epidendrum cochleatum and commonly referred to as the clamshell orchid or cockleshell orchid, is an epiphytic, sympodial New World orchid native to Central America, the West Indies, Colombia, Venezuela, and southern Florida.
Each oblong discoid pseudobulb bears one or two linear nonsucculent leaves. The flowers are unusual in that though the labellum is usually below the column in the orchids, in the members of Prosthechea the labellum forms a "hood" over the column. This makes the flower effectively upside down, or non-resupinate. Whereas the species usually has one anther, Prosthechea cochleata var. triandra is an endangered variety that has three anthers and is autogamous, allowing its existence in Florida where no appropriate pollinators appear to be present.
P. cochleata is common in cultivation, and is valued for its uniquely shaped and long-lasting flowers on continually growing racemes. Several hybrids have been produced with this species.
Prosthechea cochleata is the national flower of Belize, where it is known as the black orchid.
Encyclia cochleata AKA Prosthechea cochleata
Naples Orchid Society’s Annual Show
Naples, FL USA
Held At Naples Botanical Gardens
Click on Image for More Details.
Not the prettiest of orchids,, but in the United States, the Encyclia cochleata can only be found in southern Florida in several wildlife preserves close to where I live. The orchid is a species meaning a natural occurring plant found in nature and not combined with another orchid. This orchid is also on the Highly Endangered List.
Prosthechea cochleata, formerly known as Encyclia cochleata and Epidendrum cochleatum and commonly referred to as the clamshell orchid or cockleshell orchid, is an epiphytic, sympodial New World orchid native to Central America, the West Indies, Colombia, Venezuela, and southern Florida.
Each oblong discoid pseudobulb bears one or two linear nonsucculent leaves. The flowers are unusual in that though the labellum is usually below the column in the orchids, in the members of Prosthechea the labellum forms a "hood" over the column. This makes the flower effectively upside down, or non-resupinate. Whereas the species usually has one anther, Prosthechea cochleata var. triandra is an endangered variety that has three anthers and is autogamous, allowing its existence in Florida where no appropriate pollinators appear to be present.
P. cochleata is common in cultivation, and is valued for its uniquely shaped and long-lasting flowers on continually growing racemes. Several hybrids have been produced with this species.
Prosthechea cochleata is the national flower of Belize, where it is known as the black orchid.