Black Orchid: National Pride Of Belize

The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum) is the national flower of Belize. Despite its name, the flower is not black but a deep, dark maroon or purple with light yellow and dark purple veins. It is an exotic and intriguing flower that is becoming rarer due to the destruction of its natural environment. The Black Orchid was designated as the national flower of Belize in 1981 when the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. It symbolises the beauty and hardiness of the Belizean spirit and reflects the country's diverse cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds.

The Black Orchid's colour and structure

The Black Orchid, despite its name, is not black. Its petals are a deep, dark maroon or purple colour, with a contrasting light yellow centre. The sepals and petals are a mixture of green and yellow, with a purple base. The flower's lip, which resembles a clam shell or cockleshell, is a deeper purple, almost black, with showy purple veins. The long, slender, spiralling petals give the flower a distinctive octopus-like shape.

The Black Orchid is native to the humid rainforests of Belize, but can also be found in other parts of Central and South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, and southern Florida. It is an epiphytic plant, growing harmlessly on other trees and absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and debris. It does not rely on the trees for nutrition, but rather for support, reaching towards the sun’s rays that penetrate the forest canopy.

The Black Orchid typically blooms between April and May, or July and September, and is one of the few orchids in Belize that flowers nearly all year round. The blooms are tiny, growing in clusters of bulb-like stems that reach up to one and a half feet in height. The flowers emit a delicate fragrance and are a popular subject for photographers due to their unique form and colour.

The flower's symbolism and significance

The Black Orchid, or Encyclia Cochleatum, is a symbol of Belize's unique charm and resilient spirit. The flower's dark, sultry maroon colour gives it an air of mystique, and its long, slender, spiralling petals evoke a sense of elegance and beauty. The middle of the flower exhibits vibrant yellow hues, creating a beautiful contrast with the darker outer petals.

The Black Orchid is not just aesthetically pleasing but also ecologically significant. As part of the orchid family, the flower contributes to the rich biodiversity of Belize's ecosystems. The Black Orchid plays a crucial role in attracting pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies with its vibrant colours and delicate fragrance. The complex relationship between the Black Orchid and its pollinators showcases the intricate balance of nature.

The shape of the flower's lip, resembling a cockle or clam shell, gives rise to its alternative names: the Cockleshell Orchid or Clamshell Orchid. This distinctive feature, with its deep purple-brown colour and radiating purple veins, further adds to the flower's allure. The Black Orchid's ability to bloom nearly all year round, even in adverse conditions, symbolises the persistent spirit and beauty of Belize and its people.

The Black Orchid is more than just a flower; it represents the uniqueness and diversity of Belize as a nation. With its resilient nature and captivating appearance, the Black Orchid embodies the strength and resilience of the Belizean people. It serves as a reminder of the country's beauty and the hardiness of its spirit, reflecting the cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity that defines Belize.

The history of the national flower

The Black Orchid, or Encyclia Cochleatum, was designated as the national flower of Belize on 21 September 1981, when the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. The flower is symbolic of the beauty and hardiness of the Belizean spirit, reflecting the strength and resilience of the country's people. It represents the uniqueness and variety that defines Belize, a country with diverse cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds.

The Black Orchid is not truly black, but a deep, dark maroon or purple with light yellow and green colours. It is one of the few orchids in Belize that flower nearly all year long, from April to October. The flowers are unusual in that the labellum (or "lip") is usually below the column in orchids, but in the Prosthechea family, to which the Black Orchid belongs, the labellum forms a "hood" over the column, making the flower effectively upside down, or non-resupinate. The "lip" is shaped like a valve of a clam shell, giving the orchid its scientific name, Encyclia Cochleatum.

The Black Orchid is native to Central and South America, including Belize, and can also be found in Florida, USA. It is a resident of the humid rainforests of Belize, growing harmlessly upon other trees (epiphytic) and absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and debris. They do not rely on the trees for nutrition but rather for support, reaching towards the sun's rays that penetrate the forest canopy. The orchid has a preference for well-drained soil, usually found in the form of leaf litter and other organic materials in its native rainforest habitat.

The Black Orchid is protected in all forests under Belize's membership of CITES, an international agreement to protect plant and animal species in danger of extinction through international trade. It is illegal to remove orchids from Belize without a permit, and the only ethical way to collect them is to scavenge them from fallen branches.

The Black Orchid's ecosystem and habitat

The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum) is native to the rainforests of Belize, as well as other parts of Central and South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, and southern Florida. It thrives in warm, humid climates with high rainfall and temperatures ranging from 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Black Orchid is an epiphytic plant, which means it grows on other trees, using them as support to reach towards the sun's rays that penetrate the forest canopy. It absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and debris that accumulates around it. The trees provide no nutritional value to the orchid. The orchid's roots create micro-habitats and provide homes for various invertebrates, further contributing to biodiversity.

The Black Orchid typically grows in well-drained soil, often in the form of leaf litter and other organic materials found in its native rainforest habitat. It prefers partial sun exposure and adapts easily to its environment, though it favours warm temperatures.

The Black Orchid blooms between the months of April and May, and sometimes as late as October. The flowers are a mix of green and yellow, with a purple base, giving them a deep purple—almost black—appearance. The petals and sepals are long, slender, and spiralling, resembling an octopus or a clam shell, and emit a delicate fragrance. The blooms grow in clusters, reaching up to half a foot to one and a half feet in height.

How to identify and grow the flower

The black orchid, or Encyclia Cochleatum, is native to Central America, the West Indies, Colombia, Venezuela, and southern Florida. It is a tiny cluster of bulb-like stems that grow up to half a foot long, with few leaves. The flowers are a mixture of green and yellow, with a purple base. The shape of the flower is similar to a clam shell valve, and is deep purple – almost black – with showy purple veins.

To identify a black orchid, you should look at the shape and colour of the flowers, stems and leaves. The flowers are deep purple, almost black, with purple veins, and the stems are bulb-like, growing up to half a foot long. The leaves are bright green, long, smooth and textured.

To grow black orchids from seeds, you will need a small pot and orchid-specific porous mix that includes sphagnum moss, fir bark, and tree fern fibres. Sprinkle the tiny seeds on top of the soil and place the pot on a sunny windowsill. Black orchids require about six hours of sunlight per day and a temperature between 56 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Water them at least once a week and fertilize every ten days after sprouting during spring, using a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to promote blooming. Prune the flowers after they have bloomed to encourage new leaf growth.

Black orchids are susceptible to pests such as spider mites, aphids, and thrips, which can slow their growth, so be sure to treat with insecticidal soap if necessary.

Frequently asked questions