Encyclia cochleata flower is certainly not typical of an orchid flower although it is typical of its group within the genus and therefore not unusual. Encyclia contains many examples of these `upside down’ flowers, where the lip is seen at the top of the flower and the sepals and petals are held below. These are called nonrespinate flowers, as they do not turn to bring their lip on the lower plane as do most orchids. There is presumably some advantage in this for the pollination of these flowers.

Indeed, this species was discovered very late in the nineteenth century, and was not seen in flower until 1891. To the best of our knowledge it has received little recognition from various authorities by way of awards. Neither has it been touched by the hybridists. The raising of the species from seed has also proved difficult.

They require immediate greenhouse conditions where possible, but will also succeed in a warm, sunny room or sun lounge. They require plenty of light, without strong sunlight, and most have a resting period for part of the winter.

When mature, the club-shaped pseudobulbs topped by two leaves can produce a flower spike which will continue to produce a succession of blooms lasting for twelve months or more. At this stage it becomes perpetually blooming.

These hybrids originated from epiphytic species which inhabited the vast tracts of virgin jungle from central South America. Pleurothallis pubescens has The strange, beetle-like brownish flowers ‘sit’ on the surface of the leaf.

As amongst the larger orchids there are those which mimic bees, butterflies and other insects, so in the miniature varieties can be found mimicry of the smaller insects, beetles, ants and so on. The genus Pleurothallis is typical of this. It is a large genus, often overlooked, but fascinating when the beautiful or sometimes bizarre minute flowers are examined.