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Prosthechea cochleata var. triandra
Clamshell Orchid
Florida Cockleshell Orchid
Synonym(s): Encyclia cochleata
Florida native
Endangered Florida species
An epiphytic orchid found in the southern peninsula of Florida. The range includes the West Indies, Mexico, Central America and northernmost South America.
Several flowers (frequently three) appear in a widely spaced raceme at the tip of a slender stalk that can be up to 40cm (15-3/4 in.) long from the apex of the pseudobulb. Each flower has yellowish-green, linear-lanceolate petals and sepals that are similar-looking. These tepals may have purplish spots near their bases. The lip is distinctive, uppermost, concave and broadly cordate, purple to brown with prominent lines radiating outward from the base. The interesting flowers can appear year-round, but blooming occurs more heavily from September through May. Pseudobulbs are a compressed ovoid up to 15.6cm (6 in.) long and 3.8cm (1-1/2 in.) wide. One to three linear-lanceolate keeled leaves appear from the tip of the pseudobulb. Leaves are from 5cm to 30cm long and 1cm to 5cm wide (2-12 in x 4/10-2 in.).
Prosthechea cochleata is a member of the Orchidaceae - Orchid family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Sep 20, 2020
