Encyclia cochleata [L.] Lemee 1955
Plant in situ with flowers in Dominican Republic Photos courtesy of Jay Pfahl
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Common Name Clamshell or Cockle Shell Orchid - Octopus Orchid
Flower Size to 3 1/2" [to 8.75 cm]
The 'cockleshell orchid' has upside down flowers with ovoid to oblong-elliptic, compressed pseudobulbs with 2 to 3, apical, elliptic, acute leaves and can bloom for 6 months starting in the spring with an apical, erect, short to 15" [to 37.5 cm], few to many flowered, racemose inflorescence with a basal sheath that has successive opening, non-fragrant flowers. They originate from Florida south to the north coast of South America as a medium sized epiphyte found in dense tropical evergreen, deciduous and oak forests at altitudes up to 1900 meters that grow warm and require even water and fertilizer throughout the year. People have been known to eat the cooked psuedobulbs.
Synonyms Anacheilium cochleatum Hoffmannsegg 1842; Anacheilium cochleatum var. triandrum (Ames) Sauleda & Wunderlin & B.F. Hansen 1986; Aulizeum cochleatum [L.] Lindley 1892; Encyclia cochleata subsp. triandra (Ames) Hágsater 1994; Encyclia lancifolia (Pav. ex Lindl.) Dressler & G.E. Pollard 1971 *Epidendrum cochleatum L. 1763; Epidendrum cochleatum var. costaricense Schltr. 1923; Epidendrum cochleatum var. pallidum Lindl.; Epidendrum cochleatum var. triandrum Ames 1904; Epidendrum lancifolium Pav. ex Lindl. 1853; ; Hormidium cochleatum [L.] Breiger 1977; Phaedrosanthus cochleatus O.Ktze. 1904; Prosthechea cochleata (L.) W. E. Higgins 1997; Prosthechea cochleata var. triandra (Ames) W.E. Higgins; Prosthechea trulla (Rchb. f.) W.E. Higgins 1997
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Encyclia cochleata subsp. triandra (Ames) Hágsater 1994
Common Name The Three Anthered Encyclia
Flower Size to 2 1/2" [to 6.25 cm]
This variety occuring in Florida, Puerto rico and the Dominican Republic has 3 anthers instead of the normal 2 and the flowers and plants are smaller.
Synonyms Epidendrum cochleatum var triandrum Ames 1904; Epidendrum triandrum (Ames) House 1906
