Prosthechea cochleata

Original photo sourced from the French website at http://www.daphnie-vaunage.com/article-encyclia-cochleata-39182414.html

English Translation of the first half of the French article is provided here as follows:

I was reported by Charles Plumier from 1703 in his book “Helleborine cochleata flore”, Linné then described me under the name Epidendrum cochleatum in 1763.
I was classified in 1955 in the genus Encyclia by Father Albert Lennée, then in 1997 in Prosthechea by William Higgins.

Be that as it may, I was one of the first orchids grown in the Royal Gardens at Kew.

I am a South American and live in Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean, Florida and Venezuela.

I am very appreciated for the duration of my flowering and the uniqueness of my inverted flowers.

Some describe my octopus-shaped flower and the shell-shaped lip, which have earned me the nickname “shell orchid”

My flowers also evoke the shape of an octopus, my sepals and petals in the shape of small twisted ribbons hang under a dark purple, almost black rounded lip that gives me an unusual charm.

Each of you is free to give a different interpretation [of what I resemble]: cockle, octopus, squid. I accept everything! ! !

Original photo sourced from the French website at http://www.daphnie-vaunage.com/article-encyclia-cochleata-39182414.html

English Translation as follows:

I was reported by Charles Plumier from 1703 in his book “Helleborine cochleata flore”, Linné then described me under the name Epidendrum cochleatum in 1763.
I was classified in 1955 in the genus Encyclia by Father Albert Lennée, then in 1997 in Prosthechea by William Higgins.

Be that as it may, I was one of the first orchids grown in the Royal Gardens at Kew.

I am a South American and live in Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean, Florida and Venezuela.

I am very appreciated for the duration of my flowering and the uniqueness of my inverted flowers.

Some describe my octopus-shaped flower and the shell-shaped lip, which have earned me the nickname “shell orchid”.

My flowers also evoke the shape of an octopus, my sepals and petals in the shape of small twisted ribbons hang under a dark purple, almost black rounded lip that gives me an unusual charm.

Each of you is free to give a different interpretation [of what I resemble]: cockle, octopus, squid. I accept everything! ! !