Epiphytes
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Florida's three main types of epiphytes (from left to right): orchids, bromeliads, ferns.
The ferns growing on these palm trees weren't put there by humans. They showed up all by themselves thanks to spores that blew in on the wind. That's like getting a free wardrobe!
This orchid is commonly called "Ladies' slippers." Its complex shape attracts a certain type of insect - and makes it impossible for other insects to drink its nectar or pick up its pollen. If we were to put this on a tree in south Florida, it would survive, but wouldn't be able to reproduce because its pollinators don't live here.
The cardinal air plant (Tillandsia fasciculata) is common in the Everglades. It is several feet across, and has a pretty flower.
These orchid roots are tightly wrapped around the tree to keep the orchid securely in place. The white outer layer is the velamen, which helps keep water from escaping. Orchids' roots play another important role, too. Wind-blown water and nutrients get caught around the roots, where they can be absorbed. Sounds a little bit like room service!
Close-up of spores on a fern leaf.
Oncidium floridanum, also known as Dancing Lady or Florida Orchid, is a Florida native. It is pollinated when a specific genus of bee mistakes its masses of yellow and brown flowers for a swarm of a different type of bee. Being territorial creatures, the bees get all bent out of shape and attack the swarm to scare it away. During their "attack," the bees get pollen stuck to their heads, which is then transferred to another flower during another attack. The specimen in this photo started as one small orchid plant, and over a period of 20 years, has grown to be a massive and beautiful collection of many plants.
The ferns growing on this palm tree weren't put there by humans. They showed up all by themselves thanks to spores that blew in on the wind. That's like getting a free wardrobe!
You see this type of air plant (Tillandsia recurvata) all over the place here in south Florida. (Much to the dismay of Florida Power & Light, they have also been known to grow on power lines and utility poles.) Its flowers are not showy like many other bromeliads'.
Many epiphytes form “traps” with their foliage or roots. The traps on this staghorn fern, for example, capture plant material that eventually rots to provide natural plant food. Yum.
Here you can see how the strangler fig has completely enveloped a palm tree. The palm is hanging in there - but barely.
Walking past this strangler fig, it would be easy to overlook the mayhem it's causing. Strangler figs are actually quite pretty - as long as you're not its victim.
Walking past this strangler fig, it would be easy to overlook the trouble it's causing for the host tree. Strangler figs are actually quite pretty - as long as you're not its victim.
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is graceful by day, but can be a little creepy at night - especially in cemeteries. It has been used for many purposes, including building insulation, packing material, and stuffing for mattresses and car seats. In the early 1900s, Ford used Spanish moss to stuff the seats in its Model Ts, finding out the hard way that it can harbor chiggers. That left Model T owners scratching their behinds, and supposedly spurred the first automotive recall.
