Tree orchis
Prosthechea cochleata

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid. It grows attached to rock and plants. It has a false bulb 9-20 cm long. This produces leaves 20-30 cm long and a flowering scape 20-50 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antilles, Bahamas, Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, North America, South America, Suriname, USA, Venezuela, Winward Is.

How it is used for food

The pseudobulbs are used to provide an edible mucilage like okra.

Edible parts

Bulbs

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Black orchid, Clamshell orchid, Cockleshell orchid, Vasquita

Synonyms

Anacheilium cochleatum (L.) Hoffmanns.; Encyclia cochleata (L.) Dressler; Epidendrum cochleatum L.; Epidendrum cochleatum Curtiss; and others