Belize Orchids



Over 250 species of orchids are native to Belize. Some bloom only once a year, the blooms lasting for a very short time. Others, such as the Black Orchid (national flower of Belize) bloom throughout the year. Most native orchids do not have a common name, so the scientific name is the only one available. The images shown here are low resolution to expedite loading of the web page.

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Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1294
Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1294		 Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1295
Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1295		 Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1296
Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1296		 Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1297
Black Orchid (Encyclia cochleata) 1297
Bletia purpurea 1243
Bletia purpurea 1243		 Bletia purpurea 1244
Bletia purpurea 1244		 Brassavola nodosa 1258
Brassavola nodosa 1258		 Brassavola nodosa 1259
Brassavola nodosa 1259

Catasetum integerrimum (Pipe Orchid) 1311
Catasetum integerrimum (Pipe Orchid) 1312		 Cattleya bowringiana 1299 Cattleya bowringiana, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on rocks and trees. It blooms from July to October, producing large slightly fragrant flowers that last for about two weeks. To photograph this showy orchid, look on granite cliffs and the sides of ravines in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo District.
Cattleya bowringiana 1299		 Cattleya bowringiana 1300 Cattleya bowringiana, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on rocks and trees. It blooms from July to October, producing large slightly fragrant flowers that last for about two weeks. To photograph this showy orchid, look on granite cliffs and the sides of ravines in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo District.
Cattleya bowringiana 1300
Cattleya bowringiana 1301 Cattleya bowringiana, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on rocks and trees. It blooms from July to October, producing large slightly fragrant flowers that last for about two weeks. To photograph this showy orchid, look on granite cliffs and the sides of ravines in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo District.
Cattleya bowringiana 1301		 Cattleya bowringiana 1303 Cattleya bowringiana, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on rocks and trees. It blooms from July to October, producing large slightly fragrant flowers that last for about two weeks. To photograph this showy orchid, look on granite cliffs and the sides of ravines in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo District.
Cattleya bowringiana 1303		 Cattleya bowringiana 1302 Cattleya bowringiana, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on rocks and trees. It blooms from July to October, producing large slightly fragrant flowers that last for about two weeks. To photograph this showy orchid, look on granite cliffs and the sides of ravines in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo District.
Cattleya bowringiana 1302		 Caularthron bilamellatum 1291 Caularthron bilamellatum, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. It is epiphytic, living on trees in the Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo districts. Fragrant flowers of this rare orchid bloom from February to April. Stinging ants often live in the hollow pseudobulbs or stems.
Caularthron bilamellatum 1291
Caularthron bilamellatum 1292 Caularthron bilamellatum, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. It is epiphytic, living on trees in the Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo districts. Fragrant flowers of this rare orchid bloom from February to April. Stinging ants often live in the hollow pseudobulbs or stems.
Caularthron bilamellatum 1292		 Cycnoches egertonianum 1286 Cycnoches egertonianum, a native Belizean orchid, is called the swan orchid because of the shape of the male flowers.
Swan Orchid (Cycnoches egertonianum) 1286		 Cycnoches egertonianum 1287 Cycnoches egertonianum, a native Belizean orchid, is called the swan orchid because of the shape of the male flowers.
Swan Orchid (Cycnoches egertonianum) 1287		 Cycnoches egertonianum 1288 Cycnoches egertonianum, a native Belizean orchid, is called the swan orchid because of the shape of the male flowers.
Swan Orchid (Cycnoches egertonianum) 1288
Cycnoches egertonianum 1289
Swan Orchid (Cycnoches egertonianum) 1289		 Dichea 1279
Dichea 1279		 Encyclia alata 1255 Encyclia alata, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. The scientific name describes how the lobes of the flower lip encircle the winged column. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. Large, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during summer and fall.
Encyclia alata 1255		 Encyclia alata 1256 Encyclia alata, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. The scientific name describes how the lobes of the flower lip encircle the winged column. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. Large, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during summer and fall.
Encyclia alata 1256
Encyclia alata 1257 Encyclia alata, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. The scientific name describes how the lobes of the flower lip encircle the winged column. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. Large, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during summer and fall.
Encyclia alata 1257		 Encyclia guatemalensis 1250 Encyclia guatemalensis, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. It grows to about one meter tall in the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts. Colorful, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during May and June.
Encyclia guatemalensis 1250		 Encyclia guatemalensis 1251 Encyclia guatemalensis, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. It grows to about one meter tall in the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts. Colorful, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during May and June.
Encyclia guatemalensis 1251		 Encyclia guatemalensis 1252 Encyclia guatemalensis, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. It grows to about one meter tall in the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts. Colorful, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during May and June.
Encyclia guatemalensis 1252
Encyclia guatemalensis 1253 Encyclia guatemalensis, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. It grows to about one meter tall in the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts. Colorful, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during May and June.
Encyclia guatemalensis 1253		 Encyclia guatemalensis 1254 Encyclia guatemalensis, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. Like its relative, the black orchid, it lives on rain forest trees. It grows to about one meter tall in the Cayo and Stann Creek Districts. Colorful, fragrant flowers of this uncommon orchid bloom during May and June.
Encyclia guatemalensis 1254		 Encyclia pygmea 1266
Encyclia pygmea 1266		 Encyclia pygmea 1267
Encyclia pygmea 1267
Encyclia radiata 1284
Encyclia radiata 1284		 Encyclia radiata 1285
Encyclia radiata 1285
Epidendrum paniculatum 1269		 Epidendrum paniculatum 1270
Epidendrum paniculatum 1270
Epidendrum paniculatum 1271
Epidendrum paniculatum 1271		 Epidendrum polyanthum 1530
Epidendrum polyanthum 1530		 Epidendrum rigidum 1290
Epidendrum rigidum 1290		 Epidendrum stamfordianum 1316
Epidendrum stamfordianum 1316
Epidendrum stamfordianum 1317
Epidendrum stamfordianum 1317		 Gongora quinquinervis 1328
Gongora quinquinervis 1328		 Gongora quinquinervis 1329
Gongora quinquinervis 1329		 Gongora quinquinervis 1564
Gongora quinquinervis 1564
Gongora unicolor 1327 Gongora unicolor, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on trees and rotten logs in the rain forest. Fragrant flowers bloom from December to July. Gongora orchids have evolved a mechanism to achieve pollination. Tiny orchid bees enter the flower and fall down the column, getting dusted with pollen.
Gongora unicolor 1327		 Gongora unicolor 1532 Gongora unicolor, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on trees and rotten logs in the rain forest. Fragrant flowers bloom from December to July. Gongora orchids have evolved a mechanism to achieve pollination. Tiny orchid bees enter the flower and fall down the column, getting dusted with pollen.
Gongora unicolor 1532		 Gongora unicolor 1533 Gongora unicolor, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on trees and rotten logs in the rain forest. Fragrant flowers bloom from December to July. Gongora orchids have evolved a mechanism to achieve pollination. Tiny orchid bees enter the flower and fall down the column, getting dusted with pollen.
Gongora unicolor 1533		 Gongora unicolor 1534 Gongora unicolor, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on trees and rotten logs in the rain forest. Fragrant flowers bloom from December to July. Gongora orchids have evolved a mechanism to achieve pollination. Tiny orchid bees enter the flower and fall down the column, getting dusted with pollen.
Gongora unicolor 1534
Gongora unicolor 1563 Gongora unicolor, a native Belizean orchid that has no common name, lives on trees and rotten logs in the rain forest. Fragrant flowers bloom from December to July. Gongora orchids have evolved a mechanism to achieve pollination. Tiny orchid bees enter the flower and fall down the column, getting dusted with pollen.
Gongora unicolor 1563		 Isochilus carnosiflora 1304 The native orchid Isochilus carnosiflorus has no common name. “Isos” is Greek for equal; “cheilos” means lip. Flower lip and sepals are about equal in length. “Carnosus” is Latin for fleshy; flora means flower. It grows on rain forest trees throughout Belize. Hummingbirds pollinate the flowers.
Isochilus carnosiflora 1304		 Isochilus carnosiflora 1305 The native orchid Isochilus carnosiflorus has no common name. “Isos” is Greek for equal; “cheilos” means lip. Flower lip and sepals are about equal in length. “Carnosus” is Latin for fleshy; flora means flower. It grows on rain forest trees throughout Belize. Hummingbirds pollinate the flowers.
Isochilus carnosiflora 1305		 Maxillaria aciantha 1260
Maxillaria aciantha 1260
Maxillaria aciantha 1261
Maxillaria aciantha 1261		 Maxillaria aciantha 1262
Maxillaria aciantha 1262		 Maxillaria friedricksthalli 1277
Maxillaria friedricksthalli 1277		 Maxillaria friedricksthalli 1278
Maxillaria friedricksthalli 1278
Maxillaria pulchra 1560
Maxillaria pulchra 1560		 Maxillaria pulchra 1561
Maxillaria pulchra 1561		 Maxillaria pulchra 1562
Maxillaria pulchra 1562		 Maxillaria rufescens 1268
Maxillaria rufescens 1268
Maxillaria uncata 1320
Maxillaria uncata 1320		 Maxillaria variabilis 1263 Maxillaria variabilis, a native Central American orchid, has no common name in Belize, but is known as “La Gloria” in Guatemala. Maxilla is Latin for jawbone. The flower column and lip resemble insect jaws. This orchid blooms from July to March and occurs in central and southern Belize.
Maxillaria variabilis 1263		 Maxillaria variabilis 1264 Maxillaria variabilis, a native Central American orchid, has no common name in Belize, but is known as “La Gloria” in Guatemala. Maxilla is Latin for jawbone. The flower column and lip resemble insect jaws. This orchid blooms from July to March and occurs in central and southern Belize.
Maxillaria variabilis 1264		 Maxillaria variabilis 1265 Maxillaria variabilis, a native Central American orchid, has no common name in Belize, but is known as “La Gloria” in Guatemala. Maxilla is Latin for jawbone. The flower column and lip resemble insect jaws. This orchid blooms from July to March and occurs in central and southern Belize.
Maxillaria variabilis 1265
Myrmecophila tibicinis 1308 Gaudily colored flowers of this native Belizean orchid attract inexperienced young bees, which pollinate them but obtain nothing in return. The name Myrmecophila is Greek, meaning an ant, a friend. Ants live in the hollow stems and protect the plant. Tibicinis is Latin for flute-player. Children sometimes use the stems as trumpets.
Myrmecophila tibicinis 1308		 Myrmecophila tibicinis 1309 Gaudily colored flowers of this native Belizean orchid attract inexperienced young bees, which pollinate them but obtain nothing in return. The name Myrmecophila is Greek, meaning an ant, a friend. Ants live in the hollow stems and protect the plant. Tibicinis is Latin for flute-player. Children sometimes use the stems as trumpets.
Myrmecophila tibicinis 1309		 Myrmecophila tibicinis 1310 Gaudily colored flowers of this native Belizean orchid attract inexperienced young bees, which pollinate them but obtain nothing in return. The name Myrmecophila is Greek, meaning an ant, a friend. Ants live in the hollow stems and protect the plant. Tibicinis is Latin for flute-player. Children sometimes use the stems as trumpets.
Myrmecophila tibicinis 1310		 Nidema boothii 1332
Nidema boothii 1332
Nidema boothii 1333
Nidema boothii 1333		 Oeceoclades maculata 1314
Oeceoclades maculata 1314		 Oeceoclades maculata 1315
Oeceoclades maculata 1315		 Oncidium altissimum 1306
Oncidium altissimum 1306
Oncidium altissimum 1307
Oncidium altissimum 1307		 Oncidium carthenagenense 1334 Oncidium carthagenense, one of the native “mule ear” orchids, lives on forest trees and citrus. Bees gather oil from the flowers, which resemble insects. When a breeze moves the flowers, the territorial bees mistake them for intruding insects. They attack by butting into the flowers, thus pollinating them.
Oncidium carthenagenense 1334		 Oncidium carthenagenense 1335 Oncidium carthagenense, one of the native “mule ear” orchids, lives on forest trees and citrus. Bees gather oil from the flowers, which resemble insects. When a breeze moves the flowers, the territorial bees mistake them for intruding insects. They attack by butting into the flowers, thus pollinating them.
Oncidium carthenagenense 1335		 Oncidium carthenogenense 1336 Oncidium carthagenense, one of the native “mule ear” orchids, lives on forest trees and citrus. Bees gather oil from the flowers, which resemble insects. When a breeze moves the flowers, the territorial bees mistake them for intruding insects. They attack by butting into the flowers, thus pollinating them.
Oncidium carthenagenense 1336
Palmetto Orchid (Galeandra batemanii) 1272 Flowers of this native Belizean orchid appear during the rainy season, May to November. Because it commonly grows on palmetto palms, Galeandra batemanii is called the ‘palmetto’ orchid. It occurs throughout Belize except in the north. A good way to see it is by canoeing in coastal waterways that are bordered by palmettos.
Palmetto Orchid (Galeandra batemanii) 1272		 Palmetto Orchid (Galeandra batemanii) 1273 Flowers of this native Belizean orchid appear during the rainy season, May to November. Because it commonly grows on palmetto palms, Galeandra batemanii is called the ‘palmetto’ orchid. It occurs throughout Belize except in the north. A good way to see it is by canoeing in coastal waterways that are bordered by palmettos.
Palmetto Orchid (Galeandra batemanii) 1273		 Palmetto Orchid (Galeandra batemanii) 1274 Flowers of this native Belizean orchid appear during the rainy season, May to November. Because it commonly grows on palmetto palms, Galeandra batemanii is called the ‘palmetto’ orchid. It occurs throughout Belize except in the north. A good way to see it is by canoeing in coastal waterways that are bordered by palmettos.
Palmetto Orchid (Galeandra batemanii) 1274		 Platythelys querceticola 1245
Platythelys querceticola 1245
Polystachia foliosa 1569
Polystachia foliosa 1569		 Pleurothallus brighamii 1313
Pleurothallus brighamii 1313		 Pleurothallis yucatanensis 1248
Pleurothallis yucatanensis 1248		 Sacoila lanceolata 1275
Sacoila lanceolata 1275
Sacoila lanceolata 1276
Sacoila lanceolata 1276		 Scaphoglottus leucantha 1318
Scaphoglottus leucantha 1318		 Scaphoglottus leucantha 1319
Scaphoglottus leucantha 1319		 Scaphyglottis minutiflora 1247
Scaphyglottis minutiflora 1247
Sobralia decora 1280 width=
Sobralia decora 1280 		Sobralia decora 1281 width=
Sobralia decora 1281		 Sobralia decora 1282 width=
Sobralia decora 1282		 Sobralia decora 1283 width=
Sobralia decora 1283
Sobralia fragrans 1246
Sobralia fragrans 1246		 Sobralia macrantha 1571 The stunning flowers of this native Belizean orchid last only one day. There is no common name for Sobralia macrantha (macranthus is Latin for large flower). It grows in the ground or on rocky outcrops in the Mountain Pine Ridge. This tall orchid blooms throughout the year.
Sobralia macrantha 1571		 Sobralia macrantha 1572 The stunning flowers of this native Belizean orchid last only one day. There is no common name for Sobralia macrantha (macranthus is Latin for large flower). It grows in the ground or on rocky outcrops in the Mountain Pine Ridge. This tall orchid blooms throughout the year.
Sobralia macrantha 1572		 Sobralia macrantha 1573 The stunning flowers of this native Belizean orchid last only one day. There is no common name for Sobralia macrantha (macranthus is Latin for large flower). It grows in the ground or on rocky outcrops in the Mountain Pine Ridge. This tall orchid blooms throughout the year.
Sobralia macrantha 1573
Stelis cilaris 1330
Stelis ciliaris 1330		 Stelis cilaris 1331
Stelis ciliaris 1331		 Stelis cilaris 1535
Stelis ciliaris 1535		 Epidendrum imatophyllum Epidendrum imatophylum, a native Belizean orchid, has no common name. “Epidendrum” is Greek for “upon tree”. It lives on rain forest trees near rivers and in orange groves. Moths, butterflies and hummingbirds pollinate the large showy flowers. Stinging ants often nest among the roots.
Epidendrum imatophyllum

Epidendrum nocturnum		 Encyclia belizensis
Encyclia belizensis		 Encyclia bractescens
Encyclia bractescens		 Ionopsis utricularioides
Ionopsis utricularioides
Mormolyca ringens
Mormolyca ringens		 Oncidium ascendens
Oncidium ascendens		 Platystele stenostachya
Platystele stenostachya		 Pleurothallis grobyi
Pleurothallis grobyi
Rhyncholaelia digbyana
Rhyncholaelia digbyana		 Sarcoglottis sceptrodes
Sarcoglottis sceptrodes		 Trigonidium egertonianum
Trigonidium egertonianum		  

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