Copyright by: George D. Gann, 2013
In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also accent epiphtye.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Epiphytic herb.
Dimensions: 6-12 inches in height. Usually taller than broad.
Growth Rate: Slow.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north to Martin, Okeechobee, Hendry and Collier counties; West Indies, southern Mexico, Central America and South America. In the Monroe County Keys, known from only one island near Key Largo.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Moist forests and swamps.
Soils: Epiphytic; grows on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows on nutrient poor substrate.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Low; requires moist substrate and high humidity and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Light shade.
Flower Color: Greenish inflorescence.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Fall.
Fruit: Green to brown capsule with hairy, wind dispersed seeds.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed and division.
