Nature’s Notebook
Butterfly Orchid of Florida
The butterfly orchid (Encyclia tampensis, also Epidendrum tampense) of Florida is the most abundant epiphytic (growing on another plant but not parasitic) orchid in southern and central Florida. The genus name Encyclia means “to encircle,” referring to the lobes of the flower lip that encircle the column where the stamens and pistil are united, which is unique to orchids. The species name tampensis originated from the butterfly orchid first being discovered in the Tampa Bay area of Florida in 1846. With approximately 30,000 species, orchids are the largest family (Orchidaceae) of flowering plants on earth.
Most of Florida was not developed until the 1920s; therefore, many native areas have persisted. Except for Alaska, Florida has proportionately more land set aside and protected at the federal, state, county and local levels. Many private lands are also protected. This is why the 67 counties in Florida all have orchids and orchid habitat. More than 40 species of orchid, accounting for more than half the orchid species in the state, are found in the southern seven counties of Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach. The butterfly orchid is abundant in all these counties.
The butterfly orchid occupies mangrove forests, swamps and hardwood forest habitats. It flowers primarily from May through August, mostly in June and July, but can flower any time of the year. All orchids are monocotyledons, meaning each has a single emerging leaflike structure when the seed germinates. Lilies, palms and grasses are also monocots.
The butterfly orchid is a herbaceous perennial with green pseudo-bulb (swollen stem that acts as a water storage organ) that is topped by one to three lanceolate leaves. These leaves are 3 to 12 inches long and 3/8 to 3/4 inches wide. The flowers are 3/4 inches wide and located on branching spikes that obtain 30 inches in length with 45 blooms. The widespread flower petals and sepals are similar in shape and size.
The flower colors include shades of yellow, green or brown. The lip of the flower is white with a crimson or magenta spot in the center. Orchid flowers have three sepals, two petals and a remaining petal that is modified into a lip. The lip guides pollinators toward the nectar where they are forced to pass by the column, effecting pollination. Orchids can be pollinated by flies, bees, wasps, butterflies and hummingbirds. Butterfly orchid flowers emit a sweet fragrance from midmorning to the afternoon, attracting small pollinating bees. It is epiphytic on a variety of trees, including pop ash, cypress, pond apple, live oak, gum, red maple, mangrove and buttonwood. Each orchid has many external roots that anchor the pseudo-bulb to a tree trunk or branch. The roots absorb nutrients and water only from the surface of the tree. After pollination, an
THE BUTTERFLY ORCHID IS LISTED BY THE STATE AS COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED, AND COLLECTING IT IS PROHIBITED.
elliptical fruit is formed that measures 7.6 inches long and 3.8 inches wide with three internal valves. When the hanging fruit matures, it splits, releasing thousands of microscopic seeds that are spread by the wind. These minute seeds have an enclosed unspecialized embryo with very little food that allows the seed to grow for only a short time unless food can be obtained from outside the seed.
Fungi (mycorrhiza) are necessary for seed germination and seedling development. The fungi provide carbon for orchids. When orchids are removed from their native habitats they usually do not survive the transplanting. It is believed this is caused by the disruption of the orchid and fungal association. Fungi are very critical in the development of all orchids. Orchids will continue to consume fungi even after later stages when they are capable of photosynthesis, producing their own food.
Orchids are protected by law and are illegal to collect. Approximately half of the orchids in Florida are listed as threatened or endangered. More orchid species are proposed for similar listings. The status of Florida orchid species is published in the Regulated Plant Index provided by the Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville. Information can also be found at the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (freshfromflorida.com).
The butterfly orchid is listed by the state as commercially exploited, and collecting it is prohibited. In the early 1990s I photographed a large composite of butterfly orchids (see image below) attached to a large buttonwood limb on a small island near Captiva. I revisited this island several weeks later to take more pictures and discovered that the large assembly of butterfly orchids had been taken. There are several reasons that orchid populations are threatened, but illegal collecting for commercial or personal collecting is a major contributing factor.