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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 ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.

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


Other data on Epidendrum floridense available from:



 
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