Wherefore art thou, Harisella?

[JonnyBravo]

When I first learned that we have native orchids growing here in my BEAUTIFUL home state of Florida, I got all in a tizzy. I thought (with typical neophytic inexperience) that orchids were tropical plants that grew... somewhere else. I immediately bought a few Enc. tampensis since I live in the Tampa Bay area and it seemed only appropriate, and then set out to find the wild brethren of my new plants. And I did find them-- in parks, mostly, but also in a few suburban neighborhoods. That started my fever. I then got my hands on "Wild Orchids of Florida" by Paul Martin Brown (BUY IT!!!), and I got a full-blown case of Gotta-See-It-NOW. I haven't made much headway into the reported 118 species and varieties of Floridian orchids, but I've seen some good ones.

But I'm stuck. There's a sneaky little plant who seems to lack leaves only for the sake of becoming invisible to my untrained eye. Oh yes, little Harrisella/Campylocentrum porrecta may be the most common orchid in Florida. It exists in more counties than most others. It grows in habitats from hardwood hammocks to cypress swamps. And it has become my white whale. I have driven for HOURS to visit several state parks where she has been officially documented, and scoured every epiphyte-laden branch from Hillsborough to Monroe counties. But still, I have yet to spot the "jingle bells" after which this species is named. I have often wondered while leaning against a tree, "How many Harrisella are there around me right now, and I'm just not seeing them? Are they on this tree? This branch?" And then I commence to tear out my hair.

Any hints? Suggestions? I LOVE finding them on my own, so PLEASE don't tell me the exact tree to look in. But perhaps the right area in a park, or the right grove of neglected citrus trees... I can't believe I'm even asking for help here, but I'm going nuts. I'm willing to drive *almost* anywhere in the state, and additional orchids to see while hunting would be a bonus. Thanks for your help, folks!

[camille1585]

I'm not from FL ,but am an avid orchid hunter on this side of the pond. Does your orchid guide give blooming dates? I looked it up quickly on internet, and the Jingle bell orchid apparently blooms from August to October. That would (partially) explain why you can't find it! Must be hard to spot since it's leafless.
That's what I like about hunting orchids, it's all about being in the right place at the right time.

Here's where I got the blooming info:
Jingle Bell Orchid, Needleroot Orchid (Harrisella porrecta) at Florida's Native and Naturalized Orchids

[flhiker]

Hi Jonny and welcome to the board. I have seen plenty of these little guys. The trick to finding them is when you look a trees where they are known to be look for slender branches (mostly 1 to 2 inches dia.) also look for very thin greyish roots (not a clump or leaves) and see where they go. It sounds simple enough but it works for me. You probably wont find one in flower but they normally have seed pods hangs hence the name jingle bell orchid. I have found them in the Big Cypress N.P. and mostly in the Fakahatchee Strand. They are through out the strand so look anywhere.

[JonnyBravo]

Yeah, my guide gives the same bloom dates, for the most part. "Wild Orchids of Florida" says that flowers may last into November. But the flowers max out at about 3mm, which makes them INCREDIBLY difficult to see, especially with my pathetic eyesight.
I will try my best to remember that they are "twig epiphytes" and concentrate more on the smaller branches than trunks.
I predict that once I see one, I will see them everywhere. It took hours and hours of searching in an area where I knew that E. tampensis grew before I could find one. But then I went back through places I had already checked, and found a dozen or more. Now I can spot them from a moving car when they are not in bloom.
This challenge is kind of fun. At the risk of seeming crass, it's a little like a type of virginity- part of me loves the anticipation, but another part can't wait for it to happen!
(PS- I know I spelled Harrisella wrong in the title. I promise, it was a typo and not a spelling error. ::shudder:

[Zozzl]

There is a reference in 'The Native Orchids of South Florida' that says they can be found on the trunks of conifers, Sabina and Toxodium, and on Juniper, Acer rubrum, Cephalnathus and Fraxinus
Caroliniana. Also on citrus trees with Ionopsis (in the Big Cypress). It says that the seed pod is more conspicuous than the flowers.

[prem]

Jonny, I sent you a private message.

---Prem