10 species day

[DJR]

Went out today again to Starkey Wilderness Park and found a few orchids I missed yesterday.

10 species today!

Here they are:

Epidendrum magnoliae
Habenaria odontopetela (as usual)
Platanthera flava
Listera australis
Spiranthes odorata
Spiranthes ovalis

New today were:

Malaxis spicata
Corallrhiza wisteriana
Cyclopogon cranachoides (need to confirm)
Platythelys querceticola (1 single plant in a deer/hog trail in pretty bad shape from the poundings)

Have had a bad time trying to find the single Cyclopogon I found several years ago that had the nice copper red leaves. The plants I found today were growing under palms and were green. Found 3 of them with old bloom spikes. However I have been looking at these plants and have not ruled out being Masedanus. The Hardwood Hammock they are located is a calcareous area and both species seem to prefer this habitat. I looked at the old flower stalks today on a few of the plants and they appear to be more spread out as Masedanus has. Cyclopogon's flowers are more compact on the inflorescence. I guess I will have to wait for the plants to bloom to confirm. The photos show some of the plants without the flower spikes. I took photos with the D90 today but again until I can get this software problem fixed I cannot download the photos

I have covered only about 20-40 acres of this one area with about 20,000+ to go just of Starkey!

More to come

Don

[prem]

I would hazard a guess that the last ones are Mesadenus...they look similar to Mesadenus plants I've seen in the wild.

---Prem

[flhiker]

Looks like you had fun. With less the 1% searched you will be busy for awhile. Going to do a overnite hike in Big Cypress (if we don't change our minds and go elsewhere) this Saturday, hope to find some new stuff. First Backpacking trip of the year. YES!

[trdyl]

Looks like you had a fruitful day. I love the pics.

[DJR]

Thanks again Prem

If it is Mesadenus then this location needs to be documented as they are only found at this time in 4 counties and one area has been exterpated as I am you are sure you are aware.

I did find another location yesterday in Aripeka with just 2 plants (deer browsed flower spikes) in the same type of habitat. Maybe it is just a good year for the states orchids? Elnino? H2O does wonders...

Don

[DJR]

Originally Posted by flhiker

Looks like you had fun. With less the 1% searched you will be busy for awhile. Going to do a overnite hike in Big Cypress (if we don't change our minds and go elsewhere) this Saturday, hope to find some new stuff. First Backpacking trip of the year. YES!

Hope you have a good successful trip. Find some good plants! Best of all...have fun

Don