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.

During 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.

Common Orchids of Big Cypress

—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)

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.

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
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

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.

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.

Center photo courtesy of JR Bertels, NPS/ VIP

Left and right photos: NPS/Christine Clark

Orchids_FINAL.indd on HQ shareall, interp publications: 4,000 printed 10/2010, stored at Oasis & WC