The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum)

This is one of the national symbols of Belize; the National Flower of Belize.

This orchid grows on trees in damp areas, and flowers nearly all year round.

Its clustered bulblike stems vary in size up to six inches long and carry two or three leaves.

The black orchid flower has greenish-yellow petals and sepals with purple blotches near the base. The "lip" (one petal of special construction, which is the flower's showiest) is shaped like a valve of a clam shell (hence the name Encyclia Cochleatum) and is deep purple-brown, almost black, with conspicuous radiating purple veins.

This particular specimen flowered on 30sep07, the first flower to bloom is on the right. The newest and freshest looking flower is the one on the left. The plant is rooted in coconut husk, it catches the sun from dawn up until midday.

The local name for this amazing plant is Frangipani.

It has an amazing flower. The flower on the plant shown here starts off as this pink tinge and mellows out to a vibrant strong red.

Then later on, like most other things, it turns brown and drops off.

This is one of the hardwood bonsai experiments, a cedar.

The tree is two years old and stands about one metre tall. In the bush it would probably have reached nearly three metres at this age.

The tree has been replanted about six times. At the first replanting, the tap root was removed completely.

At each subsequent replanting, the root ball has been severaly trimmed back. The roots are draped over a large central rock, about as big as two fists.

The rocks around the base of the tree cover the exposed roots and help the soil to retain moisture.

The main trunk was maimed at about one year and a stone has been secured in the gash.

Eventually the tree will be placed in a wide, shallow dish, complete with the rock under the central root ball.