CLOSED: florida butterfly orchid

Would ANYONE have a florida butterfly orchid to trade for something? ANYTHING??????

Hey Jan. I will go and call some nurseries around here and i'll make it my mission to try and find you this one, ok?
Frouk
P.s Do you have any orchid seed?

I planted some but they never sprouted. I made a trade for some that never came so, NO. But I can pay,(if it's not a lot), or trade if I can just find one. I thought they would be all over florida since it's called FLORIDA Butterfly orchid. Wouldn't you think?

From the internet it is also called Encyclia rufa. They have 2 sizes listed here http://www.orchidworks.com/palmer/species.html

Hope this helps.

Most or all the the true "Florida" wild orchids that are native here are protected. The reason you cannot find them is that its illegal to collect them in the wild, because they were 'collected' almost to extinction. Encyclia rufa is not a native FL orchid, I am pretty sure.

There are some of the Encyclia tampiensis and probably a few other species available from vendors now and then that are cultivated from seed. Your best bet would be to do a search for E. tampiensis or Native Fl Orchids and see if there are any nurseries that are raising them for sale from seed.

Encyclia tampiensis is very difficult to grow from 'seed'. It is not winter hardy north of 9B. It is rarely seen around here. It has a very sweet fragrance and likes full sun. I have seen growing wild only once in my years here.

I have never seen it offered for sale.

WHO does that one belong to in the picture? Is it one plant or is it many? Does it come in different colors or just the yellow/ or orange color? I'm just amazed with it. Does it live ON the trees or in a hole or potting soil in a hole? Can you tell me about it?

My D's SO is a Utility arborist, so ends up out in the sticks quite a bit. He's not seen these in the wild for a long time, and typically more towards the southern area's of central florida. We've talked about this as I do a lot of natives and have a few rare/endangered on my property. ( we border 3500 acres of St. Johns Wildlife Management property. Not seen them wild here, and I get some unusual ones here. We have some very dense, very wild untouched acreage, and we have looked for this. Not likely to be found in the wild, and not legal to collect IF you did find it.

This orchid is growing on the bark of a tree in a front yard on a busy street here in Tampa.

I am willing to bet it was collected and placed there, but, being so old there is no knowing for sure.

It is at least 50 yrs old.

Same tree, different branch>

I'm certainly not looking for any thing illegal. I'm looking for one owned. Do people own them? I'm not from around there and only seen one in a picture, but fell in love with it and wanted to see if I could find one. I know nothing about it except what you all just told me. How difficult would it be to LEGALLY get one? Is there ANY place that has them for sale? Do they come in colors other than shown?

If I knew of a place to buy one I would buy one. I am guessing that somewhere in the US there is someone who is selling them legally (raised from spores).

I have done web searches and asked many of the local orchids growers about this plant, no one has ever seen it for sale.

The color of the flower in my photos is the only color that I have seen, in person or in photos.

The orchid in your photo is too small to ID. There are other native orchids, I have never seen them, but, I have heard about them.

We have one up here called the Green Fly Orchid that's pretty numerous. Unfortunately its nothing special, that's why its pretty numerous...not pretty enough to collect.

www.fantasyorchids.com in Colorado claims to have Encyclia tampensis for $8

This website:

http://rsauleda.tripod.com/encyclias.html

has some very nice photos of several encyclias, INCLUDING some SEED GROWN Encyclia tampensis

Try here http://www.jewellorchids.com/2006Pages/aboutus.html. He is a very reliable Encyclia grower. I've not seen them as natives since childhood in S. FL. Good luck.
Laurel

It says the page cannot be found. Sorry. The ones gothqueen sent is sold out or not available.

Here is the page that said not found. They have them for 10.00.

http://www.jewellorchids.com/

I think this will do. They have several to choose from that will be perfect. Thank you so much.

Wow! I guess this plant is really hard to find! I guess you've found it without my help! I hope they really carry it!