Encyclia tampensis                                            Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

The butterfly orchid is found throughout Florida, in a wide variety of habitats and conditions. It grows on tree trunks and tree branches in dark moist swamps and mangroves or sunny open pine forests.

The sweet-scented flowers are small and usually yellowish green in color, with a white lip and a red-purple spot. There are some beautiful examples of this orchid on the boardwalk trail at the visitor’s center in Everglades National Park.

This orchid is a protected species in Florida and may not be collected.

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