|                    Umbrella star orchid
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                |                    Epidendrum floridense  
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                |                    Orchidaceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                 A rather rare epiphyte in hammocks and swamps. | 
               
              
                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Grown by enthusiasts. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Epiphytic wildflower. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 6-12 inches; pendent. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Slow. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland north to Palm Beach and Lee counties; disjunct in Polk County.  Very rare outside of Collier County.  In Broward County, known from a single location; perhaps extirpated in Palm Beach County. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Swamps and moist forests. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Epiphytic; grows on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; can grow on nutrient poor substrate, but needs some nutrient inputs to thrive. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; requires moist substrate and high humidity and is intolerant of long periods of drought. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Light shade. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Green. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Showy. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 Spring-summer. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Capsule containing numerous minute seeds.  Dispersal is by wind. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Primarily grown from seed in a sterilized flask. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida. | 
               
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                    Chuck McCartney, 2 September 1984 Rabenau Camp, now in Big Cypress National Preserve
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                    Chuck McCartney, 2 September 1987 Everglades National Park, plant possibly introduced by Frank C. Craighead
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                    Chuck McCartney, 29 August 1984 In habitat, Broward County, Florida
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                    Chuck McCartney, 29 August 1984 In habitat, Broward County, Florida
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