Canaveral National Seashore Flora in Focus: Orchids

Article and photos by Jimi Sadle

Biologist, Canaveral National Seashore

Native orchids are found throughout Florida in a variety of habitats and the natural plant communities of Canaveral National Seashore are no exception. Like most of the plant life in Canaveral, orchids with origins in the temperate and tropical regions of the world are found here. With just eight (8) native orchid species, Canaveral’s orchid flora is not particularly difficult to learn.

Despite the relatively low total number of species found in the park, orchids in Canaveral represent a good cross section of the diversity found in the family. Epiphytic species like butterfly orchid (Encyclia tampensis) and greenfly orchid (Epidendrum conopseum) grow on shaded oak limbs along with air plants (Tillandsia spp.) and resurrection fern (Pleopeltis michauxiana).

Terrestrial species including spring ladiestresses (Spiranthes praecox) and pale grasspink (Calopogon pallidus) can be found in sunny pinelands. The floating aquatic water spider orchid (Habenaria repens) has even been documented in the park! Canaveral National Seashore is also the only National Park Service unit where giant orchid (Orthochilus ecristatus) can be found.

Canaveral’s orchid flora is not completely worked out - plant surveys by park staff recently led to the documentation of two native and two non-native orchids that weren’t previously documented for the flora. Native jinglebell orchid (Dendrophylax porrectus) is a tiny, leafless first cousin of the world-famous ghost orchid (D. lindenii) that was found in forested wetlands and pale grass pink (Calopogon pallidus) was found in pinelands following a prescribed fire.

The two non-native species are weeds of lawns and mulch beds: soldier’s orchid (Zeuxine strateumatica) and Chinese crown orchid (Eulophia graminea). With a little more time and effort, we can expect a few more orchid species to be added to the park’s flora.