Name
Identification
Anacheilium cochleatum (L.) Hoffmanns. [family ORCHIDACEAE ]
Related name
- Anacheilium cochleatum
Common name
- clam-shell orchid, Flora of North America Vol. 26
- Florida clamshell orchid, Flora of North America Vol. 26
Flora
Entry for Prosthechea cochleata (Linnaeus) W. E. Higgins var. triandra (Ames) W. E. Higgins [family ORCHIDACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 26,
Names
Prosthechea cochleata (Linnaeus) W. E. Higgins var. triandra (Ames) W. E. Higgins [family ORCHIDACEAE], N. Amer. Native Orchid J., 5: 18. 1999
Epidendrum cochleatum Linnaeus var. triandrum Ames [family ORCHIDACEAE], Contr. Orch. Fl. S. Florida, 16, plate 8. 1904
Anacheilium cochleatum (Linnaeus) Hoffmannsegg var. triandrum (Ames) Sauleda, Wunderlin & B. F. Hansen [family ORCHIDACEAE]
Encyclia cochleata (Linnaeus) Dressler var. triandra (Ames) Dressler [family ORCHIDACEAE]
Encyclia cochleata (Linnaeus) Lemée subsp. triandra (Ames) Hágsater [family ORCHIDACEAE]
Epidendrum triandrum (Ames) House [family ORCHIDACEAE]
Treatment Author(s)
Eric Hágsater
Information
Plants to 60 cm. Stems: pseudobulbs slightly spaced, ovoid to ellipsoid, usually elongate, flattened, 3–15 × 1–3.5 cm. Leaves 1–3, oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 5–40 × 1–6 cm. Inflorescences racemes, rarely paniculate, pedunculate, elongate, loosely few-flowered, to 45 cm, base with 1 or 2 spathes. Flowers not resupinate, successive, usually 3–4 open at a time, sometimes with capsules present, green to yellowish green with a few purplish spots near base; sepals and petals similar, hanging, twisted, linear-lanceolate, 25–35 × 3–6 mm; lip deep purple, orbiculate-cordate, concave, 1.2–2.3 × 1.5–3 mm, base whitish marked with conspicuous purple veins, calli 2, yellowish, cushionlike, apex sharply mu-cronate; anthers 3, middle anther with 4 pollinia, laterals with 2 each, orange; column short, stout, 6–10 mm, apex 5-toothed. Capsules 2–4 × 0.8–1.5 cm.
Phenology
dec-feb (winter), mar-may (spring), oct-nov (fall)
Altitude range
0–30 m;
Distribution
USA Fla.
Discussion
The autogamous, 3-anthered Prosthechea cochleata var. triandra is the only variety found in Florida (Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, Lee, Martin, Monroe counties, and Florida Keys), probably because of the absence of a pollinator. Throughout the rest of the distribution of the species, 3-anthered, abnormal individuals seldom occur, and no populations have been reported. The 1-anthered var. cochleata occurs in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, and northern South America.