Encyclia cochleatum (or whatever they are called now)

[Paphraguy]

I have seen this species growing wild in the Florida wilderness. To me, the small fragrant blooms look like octopi and are sometimes commonly called the Octopus orchid. Mine is in spike again and can stay in bloom for months.

[Heather]

Oh you have one of those? I was looking through some books (pfft! Darned books w/ incorrect info!) and thought that did indeed look like an octopus. Nice pic. Love the blue background, looks like it is swimming in the ocean. Could be a bit jellyfish-esque as well. Maybe?

[LJA]

It really does look like an octopus! I wonder why they called it cochleatum-- the spiral petals maybe? (Nope, just looked it up Apparently the lip is shaped like a clam shell, hence, "Cochlea"--snail shell. I love the netting pattern on the lip! Nice one, Pete.

[Paphraguy]

Thanks Heather and lja! Yes the lips do resemble cockleshells, hence the name cochleatum. They also resemble octopuses because the blooms are upside down with the lips pointing upwards. I think they are now called Prosthechea cochleatum.

[LJA]

Dang taxonomists.....

[Paphraguy]

Originally posted by lja
Dang taxonomists.....

Exactly!

[LJA]

Pete, what color is the lip on that? It looks just a shade darker than the blue background. Is that right, or am I just seeing it funny? The only other pic I ever saw of this had a lip that was almost black.

[Heather]

I can't tell the color. It does look darker but too hard to tell exactly.

[Paphraguy]

I don't know what color it is because I'm color deficient, remember?

But to me, it looks black. Sorry!

I have been told the lips are purplish and some are so dark that they appear almost black.

[Jmoney]

I hope they don't smell like octopuses.