Encyclia tampensis in-situ(not blooming)
 

I like going Encyclia spotting whenever I’m out scurrying around the brush—found one yesterday in a scrubby area on some higher ground.

I’ve included the second picture to contrast the environments they can occupy—the picture in the more urban setting was taken almost 2 years ago in January of 2023.

https://i.postimg.cc/21yKhCkx/IMG-1622.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/HcDZq5QS/IMG-0785.jpg

VANDALS, POACHERS, AND LAZY AGENCIES SUCK
 

I regret to inform that the plant in the urban setting has been poached and the powers that be are not taking any action on the matter—in fact, it seems like they couldn’t care less…I am not happy and that orchid will be avenged!

Our other friend in the sticks continues to evade the nasty people, through ignorance or otherwise, trying to drag it and its brethren from their humble abodes!
https://i.postimg.cc/231RZ8sw/IMG-2321.jpg

THEY WILL BE AVENGED!
 

The reinforcements have arrived! This flask is packed full and the media has been eaten up—will need to deflask pretty soon and with patience!
https://i.postimg.cc/FddyznsR/IMG-2435.jpg

The Key West Orchid Society is engaged with the Fairchild Million Orchid Project to assist them in sourcing, pollinating and propagating native FL Keys orchids and putting them back into natural local habitat. One of our important aspects is genome testing to ensure the plants used for propagation purposes are indeed consistent with those existing in as similar habitat as possible thereby (hopefully) giving them the best possible odds of success when out on their own.

Good morning Keysguy! These seedlings are progeny of a local population; the pollen and seed parents are wild. The person I got this flask from has been working in conjunction with state forestry authorities in our area—due diligence was done:rofl: