Pigeon Plum with Orchids

Wrapped around the trunk of the Pigeon plum is the Florida Butterfly Orchid, Encyclia tampensis. This orchid is distributed in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Florida where it is one of the most abundant epiphytic orchids in the central and southern counties. This orchid grows on a wide variety of trees including live oak, pigeon plum (as shown here), bald cypress, buttonwood, and pond apple. The stems are dark green and typically an inch or less in diameter with one or two narrow grass-like leaves. The flowering period is May-August with a peak in June. Flowers are various shades of yellow, copper, green, or bronze veined with purple spots or stripes in the center.