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Umbrella star orchid
Epidendrum floridense
Orchidaceae
 

Copyright by: Chuck McCartney, 2 September 1984
Rabenau Camp, now in Big Cypress National Preserve

General Landscape Uses: Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Ecological Restoration Notes: A rather rare epiphyte in hammocks and swamps.

Availability: Grown by enthusiasts.

Description: Epiphytic wildflower.

Dimensions: 6-12 inches; pendent.

Growth Rate: Slow.

Range: 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.

Plant Map Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

 Map of Postal Code Areas of IRC data from peninsular Florida.

Habitats: Swamps and moist forests.

Soils: Epiphytic; grows on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs.

Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow on nutrient poor substrate, but needs some nutrient inputs to thrive.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.

Drought Tolerance: Low; requires moist substrate and high humidity and is intolerant of long periods of drought.

Light Requirements: Light shade.

Flower Color: Green.

Flower Characteristics: Showy.

Flowering Season: Spring-summer.

Fruit: Capsule containing numerous minute seeds. Dispersal is by wind.

Horticultural Notes: Primarily grown from seed in a sterilized flask.

Comments: It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida.


Copyright by: Chuck McCartney, 2 September 1984
Rabenau Camp, now in Big Cypress National Preserve

Copyright by: Chuck McCartney, 2 September 1987
Everglades National Park, plant possibly introduced by
Frank C. Craighead

Copyright by: Chuck McCartney, 29 August 1984
In habitat, Broward County, Florida

Copyright by: Chuck McCartney, 29 August 1984
In habitat, Broward County, Florida


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