Tosohatchee South Buttertfly Orchids

[frank]

Went out to Tosohatchee South this morning looking for the Florida Butterfly Orchid.  They were not abundant, possibly due to the drought, but quite a few nice ones were found.




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[Ira Runyan]

Frank, in your previous post about the Florida Butterfly Orchid you said:

The Florida Butterfly orchid is a native epiphytic orchid having the scientific name Encyclia tampensis. There is another non-native Encyclia found in Brevard county called the Rufus Butterfly orchid (Encyclia rufu)

What's the differences between the two species? How do you tell them apart?

[frank]

Ira looks like I replied to the wrong post ....; Sorry.  I hope this answers your question about identification of the Florida Butterfly and Rufous Butterfly orchids.  The Florida Plant Atlas photographs depict the physical appearance differences.  Both species can occupy the same habitats except that the Florida Butterfly orchid is strictly epiphytic where as the Rufous Butterfly orchid is reported to be terrestrial ans weell as epiphytic.


The best explanation of the differences is found at my "Go To" reference on Florida Plants ... The Atlas of Florida Plants.



I have never seen the the Rufous Butterfly Orchid in the wild but unlike the epiphytic Florida Butterfly orchid the Rufous habitat is not constrained to trees. Additionally, while the Florida Butterfly is frequently found on cedar, sweet gum, maple and most frequently on oak trees I have never seen it growing on palm trees. Some Rufous Butterfly citations indicate palm trees as habitat.





Florida Butterfly and Rufous Orchids