"Sunset over the preserve, Big Cypress National Preserve, 2015." by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
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Big Cypress
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Big Cypress
National Preserve
Orchids
Orchids invoke a sense of wonder in many people due to their distinctive beauty, great diversity and rarity. With around 30,000
known species, orchids constitute the largest family of flowering plants on earth. Not only are they extremely diverse, but they
are widespread and can be found around the world in environments ranging from rainforests to desert oases to tundra above
the Arctic Circle. Here in Big Cypress National Preserve, 36 species of orchids can be found. Some of these are epiphytic, meaning
they live on trees or other plants but are not parasitic. While others are terrestrial growing from the ground.
D
uring the dry season visitors frequently pass by rare
and beautiful orchids without a second glance. For
much of the year when the plants are not flowering they
are nondescript, resembling a small cluster of palm or grass
leaves. But one way to tell them apart from other plants is
by their leaves. With parallel veins, the leaves of the orchid
are quite variable in size and shape, some being small and
round while others are slender and elongated.
The flowers have three sepals, and three petals, one of
which is modified into a lip that serves as a landing platform
for pollinating insects or birds. It guides the insect towards
the nectar, which is strategically located to ensure that the
pollinator brushes against the pollen as it feeds. Orchids
adapted for wind, rain, insect, bee, wasp, hummingbird,
and many other types of pollination exist. Therefore, the
diversity in floral forms in the orchid is outstanding. Orchid
flowers range from being green and tiny (less than three
millimeters across) to multi-colored and large.
—Clamshell orchid
—Dingy-flowered star orchid (left)
—Leafy vanilla orchid
—Florida dollar orchid
—Florida butterfly orchid (center)
—Lace-lip ladies orchid
—Habeneria
—Snowy orchid
—Florida malaxis orchid
—Grass pink orchid (right)
Cowhorn Orchids
The endangered cowhorn orchid (Cyrtopodium
punctatum) can be found in the hardwood hammocks
and open cypress swamps of Big Cypress (pictured top
of page on left). In the spring, the plant produces an
impressive cluster of flowers spattered with shades of red
Photos courtesy of PJ Stevko
Common Orchids of Big Cypress
Epiphytic or Terrestrial
The two main growth patterns for orchids are epiphytic,
growing in trees or other hosts, and terrestrial, growing
from the ground. Epiphytic organisms were once confused
with parasitic organisms, in the sense that both types of
organisms require a host to survive. The main difference
is that epiphytes do not take anything away from its host; it
uses the host soley for stability rooting to it like an anchor.
Most epiphytic orchids have stems which are swollen at
the base and store water in this bulbous region. Terrestrial
orchids utilize their roots in the same fashion as other
plants, drawing water from the surrounding soil.
and yellow. In order to attract bees that are its pollinator,
the flowers have evolved to resemble a swarm of bees. The
actual bee flies into the flowers either to fight with what it
believes to be a rival swarm of bees, or to mate with what
appears to be bees of its own kind. In doing this, the bee
becomes covered in pollen, therefore pollinating the next
orchid when it starts the process over again. The cowhorn
orchid requires cross-pollination to produce seeds and
fruit meaning that a cowhorn orchid must receive pollen
from another cowhorn orchid in order to reproduce. The
problem is that the cowhorn orchid has become so rare
in Big Cypress that cross pollination is not reliable. Dr.
Jim Burch, the preserve’s botanist, has begun to manually
pollinate many of the known cowhorn orchids using small
forceps in an effort to conserve the species.
Ghost Orchids
One of the most unusual orchids found anywhere in the
world, the ghost orchid (Polyrrhiza lindenii) has become a
symbol of the South Florida landscape. Its haunting white
color and long curling spikes that seem to float in midair
are like a ghost of bygone eras. The ghost orchid is a night
moth pollinated specimen that blooms both during the day
and at night. The long whispy petals attract the moths in the
dead of night and provide nectar to the hovering pollinator.
The moth will then seek out another ghost orchid and
tranfer the pollen from one to another, thereby aiding in
reproduction. The most conspicuous feature of this orchid
is the system of roots, which radiate from a central hub and
creep tightly both up and down the host tree’s bark. These
orchids grow as easily on the smooth bark of a Royal Palm
as the rough bark of the cypress trees of the swamps.
The ghost orchid is an indicator for the overall health of the
Big Cypress swamp due to its need of a specialized habitat.
It requires a vast pool of genetic diversity, and high humidity
to thrive. Habitat destruction, as well as changing hydrologic
cycles have affected the ability of the ghost orchid to bloom
in high numbers. Due to its specific growth requirements
the ghost orchid is one of the most endangered flowers in
the United States. The best time to view the ghost orchid
blooming is in June/July when the flower and mosquitoes
are at their peak.
Clamshell Orchids
The small purple lip of a blooming clamshell (Encyclia
cochleata) is a beautiful sight to witness (pictured top of
page one on right). The clamshell is part of a larger family
of orchids known as the cochleata family. Elsewhere in
the world, the clamshell orchid has one central stamen, or
reproductive organ, surrounded by two pairs of pollen sacs.
Here in Big Cypress the clamshell has developed a pair of
stamen, and four pairs of pollen sacs. Thus, the Florida
clamshell orchid is another highly endangered flower which
is found in the wilds of the Big Cypress Swamp. Unlike
many other types of orchids found throughout the world,
the clamshell can be found blooming on portions of the
Turner River year-round.
A Dying Breed
Unfortunately, many of our orchid species are threatened
or endangered due to overcollecting and changing
environmental conditions. Canals built many decades ago
cause water to drain from the swamps of Big Cypress into
the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Now, efforts are being
made to stop this flow of water in the canals and restore
natural hydrologic functions in the Preserve. This is
important to the survival of orchids as they are sensitive to
climatic conditions. Many orchids in the Preserve rely on
the water in the swampland to moderate air temperatures
and provide humidity. Because most of the orchids that
grow here are of tropical origin, they do not tolerate
freezing conditions, and need the warm, moist conditions to
survive that the swamp provides.
Did You Know?
Orchids rely heavily on other species for survival. In order
to help conserve specific types of orchids certain insects
and birds must also be protected to ensure their survival.
A ghost orchid flowering (center) and in a dormant state (left).
A ranger photographs a blooming ghost orchid (right). Only take a photo, never collect orchids or other plants.
Center photo courtesy of JR Bertels, NPS/ VIP
Left and right photos: NPS/Christine Clark
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Orchids_FINAL.indd on HQ shareall, interp publications: 4,000 printed 10/2010, stored at Oasis & WC