Notes on Floristic Concordance between sources
These notes are organized based on Orchids documented in the ISB Atlas of Florida Plants (FPA: www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu) and plants keyed in Wunderlin & Hansen, 2011 (Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida, Third Edition). The names are coordinated with those given in Luer, 1972 (The Native Orchids of Florida) and Clewell, 1985 (Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle). Assignment to Subfamilies, broken down by Tribe, Subtribe, is based on Wikipedia entries, 2022
ID Quick Pics for North Florida Orchids:
Leaves absent during flowering: Tipularia, Corallorhiza, Hexalectris Leafless (myco-heterotrophic, i.e. saprophytic): Corallorhiza, Hexalectris Leaves two, in mature, flowering plant: Neottia (Listera - leaves opposite), Malaxis spicata (leaves alternating) Leaves plicate: Bletilla, Orthochilus Epiphytic: Epidendrum Flower terminal & solitary: Pogonia (Incl: Cleistesiopsis, Isotria) Flowers secund or twisted-secund (spiraling) on a tight spike, white or pale yellow to greenish: Spiranthes Flowers like a red or bronze Spiranthes: Sacoila Labellum uppermost in flower: Ponthieva, Calopogon, & Malaxis spicata Labellum spurred: Habenaria, Platanthera, Tipularia Labellum saccate: Goodyera, Platythelis
Subfamily: Orchidoideae – a single, fertile, divided anther (in Florida plants)with mealy (sectile) pollen
Tribe: Cranichideae, Subtribe: Cranichidinae
Ponthieva racemosa, Hairy Shadow Witch, Luer: P. racemosa, Clewell: P. racemosa,“North, Central, South Hammocks. One of few North Florida native orchids with the labellum uppermost – see also Calopogon.
Tribe: Cranichideae, Subtribe: Goodyerinae
Goodyera pubescens, Downy Rattlesnake Plantain, Clewell: G. pubescens, North (Liberty Co.)
Platythelys (Aspidogyne?) latifolia, Jug Orchid, Luer: Erythrodes querciticola, Clewell: Erythrodes querciticola
Zeuxine strateumatica, Soldier’s Orchid, Luer: Z. strateumatica, Clewell: Z. strateumatica, Statewide, Exotic
Tribe: Cranichideae, Subtribe: Spiranthinae
Mesadenus lucayanus (Spiranthes lucayana) Florida Keys Ladiestresses, Luer: Spiranthes polyantha
Sacoila lanceolata, Leafless Beaked Ladiestresses Luer: Spiranthes lanceolata
Spiranthes: North Florida Spiranthes are identified as terrestrials producing simple spikes with numerous white (or varyingly green to pale yellow), secund, often spiraling flowers, each flower having a spurless, non-saccate labellum (lip).
“The genus Spiranthes Rich. (Orchidaceae) has long presented a significant taxonomic and identification challenge: many of its currently accepted 35 species exhibit marked phenotypic variation at both local and continental scales, and hybridization has traditionally been thought to be pervasive. Furthermore, cryptic speciation has been documented in the group, a few species exhibit polyploidy and apomixis, the species status of some taxa is questionable, incomplete lineage sorting is likely a reality in the group, and taxonomic inflation by certain authors is a troublesome issue.“ Pace & Cameron, 2017
Spiranthes cernua, Nodding Ladiestresses, Luer: S. cernua, Clewell: S. cernua, North (Liberty Co., rare) Autumn to early-Winter flowering. “Based on the work of Catling and Sheviak, S. cernua is traditionally understood to be a facultatively agamospermic polyploid ‘compilospecies’ (2n = 45, 60; sensu Harlan and de Wet 1963) that freely hybridizes with all other species in the S. cernua species complex.” M. C. Pace & K. M. Cameron, 2017. The Systematics of the Spiranthes cernua Species Complex (Orchidaceae): Untangling the Gordian Knot
Spiranthes brevilabris Texas Ladiestresses, Luer: S. brevilabris
Spiranthes floridana, Florida Ladiestresses, Luer: S. gracilis, Clewell: S. gracilis, North, Central
Spiranthes lacera in FPA Luer: S. brevilabris
Spiranthes laciniata, Lacelip Ladiestresses, Luer: S. laciniata, Clewell: S. laciniata, Statewide
Spiranthes longilabris, Giant Spiral Ladiestresses, Luer: S. longilabris, Clewell: S. longilabris, North to Central. Fall-flowering.
Spiranthes odorata, Fragrant Ladiestresses, Luer: S. cernua v. odorata, Clewell: S. cernua v. odorata, Statewide. Autumn-flowering
Spiranthes ovalis, October Ladiestresses, Luer: S. ovalis, Clewell: S. ovalis, North to Central. Fall-flowering.
Spiranthes ovalis v. erostellata, Lesser Ladiestresses, North (Liberty, Columbia, Sumter Cos.)
Spiranthes praecox, Greenvein Ladiestresses, Luer: S. praecox, Clewell: S. praecox, Statewide
Spiranthes sylvatica, Woodland Ladiestresses, North to Central
Spiranthes triloba in FPA
Spiranthes tuberosa, Little Ladiestresses, Luer: S. grayii, Clewell: S. tuberosa, North, Central
Spiranthes vernalis, Spring Ladiestresses, Luer: S. vernalis, Clewell: S vernalis, Statewide
Spiranthes ×itchetuckneensis, North (Wakulla Co.)
Spiranthes ×meridionalis, North to Central
Tribe: Orchideae, Subtribe: Orchidinae
Habenaria floribunda in FPA
Habenaria quinqueseta, Longhorn Habenaria, Luer; H. quinqueseta, Clewell: H. quinqueseta, North (Leon & Sta Rosa Cos.)
Habenaria repens, Waterspider Habenaria, Luer: H. repens, Clewell: H. repens, Statewide
Platanthera blephariglottis, White-Fringed Orchid, Luer: P. blephariglottis, Clewell: P. blephariglottis, North to Central
Platanthera chapmanii, Chapman’s Orchid, Luer: P. ×chapmanii, North
Platanthera ciliaris,Yellow-Fringed Orchid, Luer: P. ciliaris, Clewell: P. ciliaris, North, to Central
Platanthera cristata, Crested-Fringed Orchid, Luer: P. cristata, Clewell: P. cristata, North to Central
Platanthera flava, Gypsy Spikes, Luer: P. flava, Clewell: P. flava, North to Central
Platanthera integra,Yellow-Fringeless Orchid, Luer: P. integra, Clewell: P. integra, North to Central
Platanthera (Habenaria) nivea, Snowy Orchid, Luer: Platanthera nivea, Clewell: Platanthera nivea, Statewide
Platanthera ×bicolor, Luer: P. ×bicolor, North
Platanthera ×canbyi, Luer: P. ×canbyi, North
Platanthera ×channellii, North
Subfamily: Vanilloideae – single incumbent, but loosely-knit anther (15 genera)
Tribe: Vanilleae, Subtribe: Pogoniinae
Cleistesiopsis (Pogonia) divaricata, Rosebud Orchid, Luer: Cleistes divaricata, Clewell: Cleistes divaricata, North
Cleistesiopsis oriocamporum, Fragrant Pogonia, in FPA = misapplied name: Pogonia (Cleistesiopsis) bifaria, Fernald’s Pogonia, North to Central
Isotria (Pogonia) verticillata, Whorled Pogonia, Luer: Isotria verticillata, Clewell: Isotria verticillata, North
Pogonia ophioglossoides, Rose Pogonia, Luer: P. ophioglossoides, Clewell: P. ophioglossoides, North to Central
Subfamily: Epidendroideae– a single, incumbent & highly structured anther, with solid pollinia (most orchid species, nearly 600 genera in 16 tribes)
Tribe: Arethuseae, Subtribe: Arethusinae
Calopogon barbatus, Bearded Grasspink, Luer: C. barbatus, Clewell: C. barbatus, Statewide
Calopogon multiflorus, Many-Flowered Grasspink, Luer: C. multiflorus, Clewell: C. multiflorus, North to Central [http://natureinfocus.com/natural-encounters/in-search-of-the-many-flowered-grasspink-orchid/ ]
Calopogon pallidus, Pale Grasspink, Luer: C. pallidus, Clewell: C. pallidus, Statewide, described by Chapman
Calopogon tuberosus,Tuberous Grasspink, Luer: C. tuberosus, Clewell: C. tuberosus, Statewide
Tribe: Arethuseae, Subtribe: Coelogyninae
Bletilla striata, Urn Orchid, North (Escambia Co.), Exotic,
Tribe: Neottieae, Subtribe: Neottinae
Neottia bifolia (Listera australis),Twayblade, Luer: Listeria australis, Clewell: L. australis, North (Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson Cos.) https://awesomenativeplants.info/photo_galleries/photo_pages/listera_australis.html
Tribe: Triphoreae, Subtribe: Triphorinae
Triphora rickettii (syn to T. yucatanensis), Rickett’s Noddingcaps, Luer: T. rickettii, North to Central
Triphora,trianthophoros (trianthophoro),Threebirds, Luer: T. trianthophora, North to Central Flowers in a population open synchronously, for only 6 hours on one day. (NAOCC) http://jfowlerphotography.com/?p=3733
Tribe: Malaxideae, Subtribe: Malaxidinae
Malaxis spicata, Florida Addersmouth Orchid, Luer: M. spicata, Clewell: M. spicata, North (Wakulla) to Central Note: Individual flowers twist 360 degrees (making the lip non-resupinate), untwisting at fruiting. (georgiabiodiversity.org): https://georgiabiodiversity.org/natels/profile?es_id=20373)
Malaxis,unifolia, Green Addersmouth Orchid, Luer; M. unifolia, Clewell: M. unifolia, North (Wakulla, Liberty) to Central [http://www.missouriplants.com/Malaxis_unifolia_page.html “this is an easy plant to ID however, as nothing else in our flora resembles it.”
Tribe: Cymbidieae, Subtribe: Eulophiinae
Eulophia graminea in FPA (only South FL in Wunderlin & Hansen) – Exotic
Orthochilus (Pteroglossaspis) ecristata, Luer: Eulophia ecristata, Clewell: Eulophia ecristata, Statewide, hammocks [https://georgiabiodiversity.org/natels/profile?es_id=18632 ] Orthochilus is mostly Old World, differing from Eulophia in having similar tepals, as contrasted with the variance of those in Eulophia.
Tribe: Epidendreae, Subtribe: Bletiinae
Hexalectris (Bletia) spicata, Crested (Spiked) Coralroot, Luer: Hexalectris spicata, Clewell: H. spicata, North to Central [https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/hexalectris_spicata.shtml ]
Tribe: Epidendreae, Subtribe: Calypsoinae
Corallorhiza odontorhiza,Autumn Coralroot, Luer: C. odontorhiza, Clewell: C. odontorhiza, North, rare Colombia Co. rare, (syn to Chapman’s Corallorhiza micrantha)
Corallorhiza wisteriana, Spring Coralroot, Luer; C. wisteriana, Clewell: C. wisteriana, North to Central
Tipularia discolor, Crippled Cranefly Orchid, Luer: T. discolor, Clewell: T. discolor, North, to Central
Tribe: Epidendreae, Subtribe: Laeliinae
Epidendrum conopseum, (also listed as Epidendrum magnoliae, which according to FPA is a nomen nudum) Green-Fly Orchid, Luer: E. conopseum, Clewell: E. conopseum, North to Central, epiphytic in hammocks [https://georgiabiodiversity.org/natels/profile?es_id=22327 ]
Not Known in Florida:
Subfamily: Apostasioideae – 2 or 3 fertile anthers, on stalked, filamentous staminode (2 genera in Asia & Australasia)
Subfamily: Cypripedoideae – 2 fertile anthers, on a shield-shaped staminodium, with a slipper-lip, (5 genera, Cypripedium, etc.) It is possible the most southerly Cypripedium could be encountered, of might be naturalized at some point.
Summary of North Florida Genera in Current Orchid Hierarchy:
- Apostasioideae – Asian & Australasian, unknown in FL
- Cypripedoideae – Unknown in FL, but could be encountered as extant or introduced
- Orchidoideae
- Tribe: Cranichideae
- Subtribe – Cranichidinae: Ponthieva
- Subtribe – Goodyerinae: Goodyera, Platythelis (Erythrodes), Zeuxine
- Subtribe – Spiranthinae: Mesadenus, Sacoila, Spiranthes
- Tribe: Orchideae
- Subtribe: Orchidinae: Habenaria, Platanthera
- Tribe: Cranichideae
- Vanilloideae
- Tribe: Vanilleae
- Subtribe – Pogoniinae: Pogonia, Cleistesiopsis, Isotria, Triphora
- Tribe: Vanilleae
- Epidendroideae
- Tribe: Arethuseae
- Subtribe – Arethusinae: Calopogon
- Subtribe – Coelogyninae: Bletilla*
- Tribe: Neottieae
- Subtribe – Neottinae: Neottia (Listera)
- Tribe: Triphoreae
- Subtribe -Triphorinae: Triphora
- Tribe: Malaxideae
- Subtribe – Malaxidinae: Malaxis
- Tribe: Arethuseae
- (Higher Epidendroideae)
- Tribe: Cymbidieae
- Subtribe – Eulophiinae: Eulophia,* Orthochilus
- Tribe: Epidendreae
- Subtribe – Bletiinae: Hexalectris (Bletia)
- Subtribe – Calypsoinae: Corallorhiza, Tipularia
- Subtribe – Laeliinae: Epidendrum
- Tribe: Cymbidieae