I figured that I might as well share this list on my blog. It's a little rough around the edges and it's probably always going to be a work in progress. But I'm hoping that sharing it publicly will help generate interest and help facilitate contributions. If you happen to run across a natural association that isn't listed here...please share it in a comment. Given enough eyeballs all associations can be found.
There are three types of natural associations that I'm especially interested in...
- Associations of the most commonly grown orchid species...such as Dendrobium nobile, Laelia anceps, Vanda coerulea, etc.
- Associations of the most commonly grown trees here in Southern California...Jacaranda, Camphor, Floss silk, etc.
- Associations that occur in drier habitats
Ideally, this list will help people decide which trees to plant. Whether or not a tree is a good orchid host should be the number one consideration. Then again, I might be a little biased.
To be clear, this list is exclusively for natural associations. In cultivation, orchids can be attached to and will grow on a wide range of hosts that they wouldn't necessarily choose in nature. For example, here's a photo of a Cattleya orchid that's been growing on a tire for several years...
I'm pretty sure that this Cattleya would prefer to grow on some of the phorophytes listed here.
Documenting natural associations is important because it indicates which hosts orchid seeds were able to germinate on. So not only are these hosts suitable for orchids...they are also suitable for the fungi that the orchid seeds need to germinate.
If we plant plenty of preferred phorophytes, then we can help ensure an abundance of orchids and their fungal partners. Kinda like selecting plants in order to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. You would just plant the phorophyte and swoosh...orchids would quickly swarm it like brilliant butterflies. Are there any phorophytes that will attract both orchids and butterflies? Are there any orchids that attract butterflies?
As many of us know all too well...there's a wide range of animals that love to eat orchids. So planting the best phorophytes won't only lead to an abundance of orchids...it will also lead to an abundance of animals that eat the orchids. Not to mention the animals that pollinate the orchids or use them for shelter. This in turn will lead to an abundance of the animals that eat the animals that associate with the orchids that grow on the phorophytes that you planted. Basically, the best phorophytes will have a large multiplier effect on biodiversity. The most relevant technical term is "facilitation cascade". My term for this is "linger longer". Visitors to your garden will have more subjects to photograph.
Another relevant technical term that I also recently learned from the New Zealand Epiphyte Network blog is "synanthrophic" (or... "synanthropic"?). It refers to plants and animals that benefit from human environments. Kirby's blog entry highlighted a study that found that mistletoes in Poland preferred growing on non-native city trees. While googling around for "syanthropic" I found this entry... Synanthropic Habitats. According to the Expanded Environment's website... it's a non-profit organization...
Another relevant technical term that I also recently learned from the New Zealand Epiphyte Network blog is "synanthrophic" (or... "synanthropic"?). It refers to plants and animals that benefit from human environments. Kirby's blog entry highlighted a study that found that mistletoes in Poland preferred growing on non-native city trees. While googling around for "syanthropic" I found this entry... Synanthropic Habitats. According to the Expanded Environment's website... it's a non-profit organization...
...devoted to demonstrating alternate ways of responsibly and synthetically integrating biological and ecological agents into the built world. Its goal is to assist governments, municipalities, provinces, organizations, businesses, and individuals to understand, appreciate and envision a more productive relationship between architectural and biological systems for a better and more sustainable world.What an awesome mission! Promoting the proliferation of preferred phorophytes should be right up their alley.
Unfortunately, many of these phorophytes aren't readily available in cultivation. Hopefully we can work together to try and help remedy this problem. If you grow any of these phorophytes then please share cuttings and/or seeds with others.
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Abies spectabilis - Images / Web - Pleione hookeriana
Acacia ataxacantha - Images / Web - Mystacidium capense, Polystachya mauritiana
Acacia sieberiana - Images / Web - Aerangis verdickii, Ansellia africana
Acer rubrum (red maple) - Images / Web - Encyclia pygmaea, Epidendrum acunae, Epidendrum anceps, Epidendrum nocturnum
Acnistus arborescens (guititi) - Images / Web - "justly famous as an orchid tree", "especially favorable for orchids"
Acrocomia aculeata - Images / Web - Clowesia dodsoniana, Catasetum pendulum
Adansonia digitata (baobab) - Images / Web - Ansellia africana
Adenogyne discolor - Images / Web - 20 orchid species
Afrotrilepis pilosa - Images / Web - Angraecum distichum, Bulbophyllum lupulinum, Calyptrochilum christyanum, Diaphananthe bidens, Polystachya microbambusa, Liparis nervosa, Polystachya odorata var. trilepidis, Tridactyle tridactylites
Albizia saman - Images / Web - Laelia rubescens
Allophylus racemosus - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Alnus nepalensis - Images / Web - Dendrobium aphyllum, Dendrobium eriiflorum, Oberonia falconeri, Oberonia pachyrachis, Pleione hookeriana, Rhynchostylis retusa
Aloe arborescens - Images / Web - Angraecum chamaeanthus, Mystacidium capense
Amaioua guianensis - Images / Web - numerous species
Androstachys johnsonii - Images / Web - Aerangis mystacidii
Annona glabra (pond-apple) - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum pachyrachis, Dendrophylax lindenii, Encyclia pygmaea, Epidendrum rigidum, Epidendrum strobiliferum, Lepanthopsis melanantha, Maxillaria crassifolia, Polystachya flavescens
Antirhea acutata - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Araucaria cunninghamii (hoop pine) - Images / Web - Dendrobium schneiderae, Dockrillia wassellii
Ardisia obovata (Guadeloupe Marlberry) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Artocarpus heterophyllus - Images / Web - Acampe praemosa, Bulbophyllum neilgherrence, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium ovatum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda testacea.
Artocarpus hirsutus - Images / Web - Acampe praemosa, Bulbophyllum neilgherrence, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium ovatum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda testacea.
Backhousia myrtifolia (scrub myrtle) - Images / Web - Dendrobium tetragonum, Plectorrhiza tridentata, Sarcochilus hillii, Sarcochilus parviflorus
Backhousia sciadophora (Shatterwood, Ironwood,) - Images / Web - Sarcochilus falcatus, Sarcochilus hillii
Bischofia javanica - Images / Web - Dendrobium aphyllum
Bourreria domingensis - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Brachychiton populneus (Kurrajong) - Images / Web - Dendrobium speciosum
Brahea dulcis - Images / Web - Clowesia thylaciochila, Mormodes aromatica
Breonadia salicina - Images / Web - Acampe pachyglossa, Ansellia africana, Jumellea walleri, Microcoelia exilis, Mystacidium venosum, Polystachya albescens subsp imbricata, Polystachya mauritiana
Bridelia micrantha - Images / Web - Polystachya albescens subsp imbricata
Bursera simaruba - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Cabralea canjerana - Images / Web - Miltonia flavescens
Callicoma serratifolia - Images / Web - Dockrillia schoenina
Calophyllum brasiliense - Images / Web - Rodriguesia decora, Ionopsis utricularioides
Casearia guianensis (Guyanese Wild Coffee) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Castanopsis indica - Images / Web - Aerides odoratum, Bulbophyllum affine, Bulbophyllum umbellatum, Bulbophyllum viridiflorum, Coelogyne cristata, Dendrobium aphyllum, Gastochilus acutifolius, Oberonia obcordata, Phalaenopsis taenialis, Vandopsis undulata
Castanopsis tribuloides - Images / Web - Pholidota imbricata
Casuarina cunninghamiana - Images / Web - Dockrillia cucumerinum, Dockrillia linguiforme, Dockrillia teretifolia
Casuarina glauca - Images / Web - Dockrillia linguiforme, Dockrillia schoenina, Dockrillia teretifolia
Casuarina torulosa - Images / Web - Dendrobium discolor
Ceiba speciosa - Images / Web - 17 orchid species
Celtis laevigata - Images / Web - Excellent phorophyte see Passages:190
Ceratiola ericoides (rosemary) - Images / Web - Tetramicra canaliculata, Tolumnia bahamensis
Ceratopetalum apetalum (Coachwood) - Images / Web - Dendrobium aemulum
Cinnamomum tamala - Images / Web - Eria spicata
Citrus - Images / Web - Mystacidium braybonae - "Citrus orchards are suitable for many orchids."
Citrus × sinensis (orange) - Images / Web - Campylocentrum micranthum, Dendrophylax porrectus, Ionopsis utricularioides, Nidema boothii, Notylia barkeri, Dimerandra emarginata, Leochilus labiatus, Trichocentrum ascendens, Trichocentrum luridum
Citrus aurantium - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Cleistocalyx operculatus - Images / Web - Aerides multiflora
Clethra hondurensis - Images / Web - Lepanthopsis floripecten
Coccoloba diversifolia (pigeonplum) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Coccoloba manzanillensis - Images / Web - Cattleya skinneri, Encyclia cordigera
Coccoloba microstachya - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Coffea arabica - Images / Web - "The coffee trees themselves can actually be good orchid hosts;"
Colebrookea oppositifolia (Indian Squirrel Tail) - Images / Web - Eria graminifolia
Combretum imberbe - Images / Web - Ansellia africana
Comocladia dodonaea (poison ash) - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Conocarpus erectus (buttonwood) - Images / Web - Encyclia boothiana
Corymbia gummifera (bloodwood) - Images / Web - Dendrobium smillieae
Crescentia alata (calabash) - Images / Web - Laelia rubescens, Barkeria barkeriola, B. naevosa, B. palmeri, B. uniflora, Dendrophylax aff porrectum, Erycina echinata, Trichocentrum cebolleta - "Epiphytes grow profusely on jicaro trees because their corky bark and open crown make them good hosts…", "especially favorable for orchids"
Crescentia cujete (calabash) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata - "justly famous as an orchid tree", "especially favorable for orchids"
Cryosophila nana - Images / Web - Catasetum laminatum, Encyclia rzedowskiana, Galeandra greenwoodiana
Cussonia spicata - Images / Web / Link - Bulbophyllum sandersonii, Polystachya ottoniana
Cycas armstrongii - Images / Web - Dendrobium affine
Dacryodes excelsa - Images / Web - Maxillaria coccinea - "the two most important orchid hosts in our study site"
Dalbergia armata - Images / Web - Aerangis somalensis
Dalbergia sissoo - Images / Web - Eria extinctoria, Pholidota articulata, Vanda tessellata, Vanda testacea
Daphniphyllum himalense - Images / Web - Cymbidium longifolium, Panisea demissa
Dillenia alata - Images / Web - Dendrobium johannis
Dillenia indica (Elephant apple) - Images / Web - Gastochilus dasyopogon
Diospyros mespiliformis - Images / Web - Microcoelia exilis
Diospyros whyteana - Images / Web - Mystacidium capense - "increasingly cultivated in Southern African gardens as an attractive and strong ornamental tree"
Dipterocarpus tuberculatus - Images / Web - Dendrobium scabrilingue
Duabanga grandiflora - Images / Web - Flickineria fugax
Dypsis fibrosa - Images / Web - Cymbidiella falcigera
Dypsis utilis - Images / Web - Eulophiella elisabethae
Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. Molle - Images / Web - Dendrobium schneiderae
Echinopsis terscheckii - Images / Web - Oncidium bifolium
Ehretia acuminata - Images / Web - Dockrillia schoenina
Ekebergia pterophylla - Images / Web - Mystacidium gracile
Elaeis guineensis (African oil palm) - Images / Web - Paralophia epiphytica - "The orchid grows near the base of the trunks of the palms, running through their leaf bases with the leaves and stems of the orchid hanging in a curtain all around the palm trunk."
Elaeocarpus grandiflorus - Images / Web - "an exceptionally good orchid host"
Engelhardia roxburghiana - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum japonicum
Engelhardia spicata - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum polyrhizum, Bulbophyllum sterile, Bulbophyllum triste, Dendrobium aphyllum, Liparis resupinata, Oberonia acaulis, Smitinandia micrantha, Trudelia alpina, Vanda tricolor
Englerophytum magalismontanum - Images / Web - Angraecum stella-africae, Bulbophyllum elliottii, Cyrtorchis praetermissa, Mystacidium braybonae, Mystacidium venosum, Polystachya mauritiana, Polystachya sandersonii
Enterolobium cyclocarpum - Images / Web - Guarianthe aurantiaca, Brassavola cucullata
Erithalis fruticosa - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Erythrina speciosa - Images / Web - 23 orchid species
Erythroxylum brevipes - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Eucalyptus paniculata - Images / Web - Dendrobium aemulum
Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Mugga, Red Ironbark) - Images / Web - Dendrobium aemulum
Eucalyptus tessellaris - Images / Web - Dendrobium discolor
Eugenia biflora - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Eugenia formosa - Images / Web - Aerides multiflora, Panisea uniflora, Papilionanthe teres
Eugenia monticola (birdcherry) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Euphorbia lactea - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Eurya acuminata - Images / Web - Oberonia caulescens, Otochilus fuscus, Panisea demissa, Trudelia cristata
Euterpe edulis - Images / Web - MVP
Ficus benghalensis - Images / Web - Aerides multiflora
Ficus nemoralis - Images / Web - Gastochilus calceolaris
Ficus neriifolia - Images / Web - Trudelia cristata
Ficus religiosa - Images / Web - Aerides multiflora, Rhynchostylis retusa
Fouquieria macdougalii - Images / Web - Oncidium cebolleta
Fraxinus caroliniana (pop-ash) - Images / Web - Campylocentrum pachyrrhizum, Dendrophylax lindenii, Encyclia pygmaea, Harrisella porrecta, Pleurothallis gelida, Restrepiella ophiocephala
Fraxinus uhdei (evergreen ash (fresno)) - Images / Web - "Ahuehuetes, ahuejotes and fresnos are good hosts for epiphytic orchids"
Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair tree) - Images / Web / Link - Neofinetia falcata
Gomidesia schaueriana - Images / Web - largest number of epiphytes
Guarea guidonia - Images / Web - Maxillaria coccinea - "the two most important orchid hosts in our study site"
Guazuma ulmifolia - Images / Web - Oncidium cebolleta
Gymnanthes lucida (Crabwood, Oysterwood) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Gymnopodium floribundum - Images / Web - Cohniella yucatanensis, Laelia rubescens, Encyclia nematocaulon
Haematoxylon brasiletto - Images / Web - Barkeria shoemakeri
Halleria lucida - Images / Web - Mystacidium flanaganii
Heritiera utilis - Images / Web - "abundance of epiphytes"
Hevea brasiliensis - Images / Web - Trichocentrum oerstedii
Holocalyx balansae - Images / Web - Miltonia flavescens
Ilex excelsa - Images / Web - Dendrobium nobile
Inga edulis - Images / Web - Rodriguesia decora, Ionopsis utricularioides
Inga marginata - Images / Web - 20 orchid species
Inga vera - Images / Web - 21 orchid species
Jacaranda mimosifolia - Images / Web - Ansellia africana
Juniperus virginiana - Images / Web - Excellent phorophyte see Passages:190
Krugiodendron ferreum (black ironwood, leadwood) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Leucosidea sericea - Images / Web - Mystacidium capense
Licania arborea - Images / Web - Brassavola cucullata, Guarianthe aurantiaca, Laelia rubescens
Lithocarpus sundaicus - Images / Web - Vanda tricolor
Lonchocarpus leucanthus - Images / Web - Miltonia flavescens
Lophira alata - Images / Web - "abundance of epiphytes"
Lophostemon confertus - Images / Web - Dendrobium aemulum
Lophostemon grandiflorus - Images / Web - Dendrobium discolor
Lophostemon suaveolens - Images / Web - Dendrobium johannis
Lyonia ovalifolia - Images / Web - Agrostophyllum callosum, Bulbophyllum retusiusculum, Coelogyne corymbosa, Dendrobium bicameratum, Esmeralda cathcartii, Liparis viridiflora, Otochilus fuscus, Panisea demissa, Sunipia scariosa
Machilus gamblei - Images / Web - Dendrobium densiflorum
Machilus zuihoensis - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum japonicum
Madhuca latifolia - Images / Web - Aerides multiflora, Eria lasiopetala, Vanda tessellata, Vanda testacea
Maesa chisia - Images / Web - Eria excavata
Magnolia ovata - Images / Web - numerous species
Mahonia napaulensis - Images / Web - Pholidota articulata
Mallotus philippensis (Red Kamala) - Images / Web - Oberonia ensiformis, Oberonia pachyrachis, Ornithochilus difformis, Rhynchostylis retusa
Mammea suriga - Images / Web - Acampe praemosa, Bulbophyllum neilgherrence, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium ovatum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda testacea
Mangifera indica (Mango) - Images / Web - Acampe praemosa, Aerides multiflora, Bulbophyllum neilgherrence, Bulbophyllum sterile, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium ovatum, Dendrophylax funalis, Eria bractescens, Rhynchostylis retusa, Trudelia cristata, Vanda testacea, Vandopsis undulata
Maytenus acuminata - Images / Web - Mystacidium venosum
Melaleuca argentea - Images / Web - Dendrobium canaliculatum
Melaleuca clarksonii - Images / Web - Dendrobium trilamellatum
Melaleuca dealbata - Images / Web - Dendrobium canaliculatum
Melaleuca leucadendra - Images / Web - Myrmecodia beccarii, Dendrobium canaliculatum
Melaleuca nervosa - Images / Web - Dendrobium affine
Melaleuca stenostachya - Images / Web - Dendrobium trilamellatum
Melaleuca symphyocarpa - Images / Web - Dendrobium canaliculatum
Melaleuca viridiflora - Images / Web - Dendrobium canaliculatum, Dendrobium carronii
Melanorrhoea usitata - Images / Web - Dendrobium scabrilingue
Meliosma squamulata - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum japonicum
Metrodorea stipularis - Images / Web - numerous species
Mitragyna parviflora - Images / Web - Acampe rigida, Aerides odoratum, Papilionanthe teres
Myrcia glabra - Images / Web - 21 orchid species
Nauclea orientalis - Images / Web - Dendrobium nindii
Nectandra megapotamica - Images / Web - Miltonia flavescens
Neea buxifolia - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Notelaea venosa - Images / Web - Sarcochilus hillii, Plectorrhiza tridentata, Sarcochilus parviflorus
Nothofagus moorei - Images / Web - Dendrobium falcorostrum
Nuxia floribunda - Images / Web - Angraecum chamaeanthus
Nyssa biflora (water gum) - Images / Web - Epidendrum conopseum
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum - Images / Web - Trichocentrum cebolleta, Encyclia adenocarpa
Pandanus utilis (common screwpine) - Images / Web - Eulophiella roempleriana
Parinari curatellifolia - Images / Web - Cyrtorchis praetermissa
Parinari excelsa - Images / Web - "abundance of epiphytes" 8 species of orchids
Parkia biglobosa - Images / Web / Link - Bulbophyllum in dryish African habitats
Patagonula americana - Images / Web - Miltonia flavescens
Paurotis wrightii - Images / Web - Encyclia tampensis
Peltophorum africanum - Images / Web - Ansellia africana
Peseskia autumnalis (manzanote) - Images / Web - Oncidium cebolleta
Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Pilosocereus royenii - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Pinus ayacahuite - Images / Web - several orchids
Pinus maximinoi - Images / Web - Epidendrum mixtum, Prostecha rhynchophora, Scaphyglottis confusa
Pinus oocarpa - Images / Web - Hormidium rhynchiphorum
Pinus roxburghii - Images / Web - Eria alba, Thrixspermum pygmaeum
Piptadeniastrum africanum - Images / Web - 7 species of orchids
Pisonia macranthocarpa - Images / Web - Rhyncholaelia digbyana
Pithecellobium dulce - Images / Web - Laelia anceps subs. dawsonii f. chilapensis
Platymiscium floribundum - Images / Web - numerous species
Plumeria obtusa - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Podocarpus latifolius - Images / Web - Angraecum chamaeanthus, Angraecum conchiferum, Angraecum sacciferum, Bulbophyllum sandersonii, Mystacidium flanaganii, Mystacidium gracile, Mystacidium venosum, Polystachya fusiformis, Polystachya ngomensis, Polystachya transvaalensis, Tridactyle bicaudata
Poitea florida - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Pongamia pinnata - Images / Web - Acampe praemosa, Bulbophyllum neilgherrence, Cleisostoma tenuifolium, Dendrobium ovatum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda testacea.
Prunus cerasoides (Himalayan cherry) - Images / Web - Trudelia alpina, Trudelia cristata
Pyrus pashia - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum cylindraceum, Chiloschista parishii, Panisea demissa, Trudelia alpina
Quercus amissaeloba - Images / Web - Lepanthopsis floripecten
Quercus castanea - Images / Web - Laelia furfuracea - "have many orchids"
Quercus chihuahuensis - Images / Web - Oncidium cebolleta
Quercus crassifolia - Images / Web - "greatest abundance of epiphytes"
Quercus deserticola - Images / Web - Laelia speciosa, Prosthechea aff. Karwinskii
Quercus elliptica - Images / Web - Hagsatera brachycolumna
Quercus germana - Images / Web - Isochilus unilateralis - highest number of epiphytes…
Quercus glauca - Images / Web - Agrostophyllum callosum, Bulbophyllum careyanum, Bulbophyllum secundum, Bulbophyllum umbellatum, Chiloschista usneoides, Coelogyne cristata, Dendrobium bicameratum, Dendrobium candidum, Dendrobium eriiflorum, Dendrobium heterocarpum, Dendrobium longicornu, Eria apertiflora, Eria bipuncata, Eria coronaria, Eria spicata, Gastochilus calceolaris, Panisea demissa, Pholidota articulata, Rhynchostylis retusa, Trudelia cristata
Quercus griffithii - Images / Web - Ceratostylis himalaica, Eria alba
Quercus laeta - Images / Web - Laelia speciosa
Quercus lanata - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum careyanum
Quercus lanuginosa - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum hirtum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Thunia alba, Trudelia alpina
Quercus liebmannii - Images / Web - Laelia furfuracea
Quercus semecarpifolia - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum odoratissimum, Bulbophyllum reptans, Bulbophyllum retusiusculum, Bulbophyllum rigidum, Coelogyne corymbosa, Epigenium fuscescens, Eria apertiflora, Eria excavata, Eria graminifolia, Ione bicolor
Quercus urbanii - Images / Web - Laelia furfuracea
Quercus vicentensis - Images / Web - "have many orchids"
Quercus virginiana - Images / Web - Epidendrum magnoliae - Excellent phorophyte see Passages:190
Rapanea juergensenii - Images / Web - "greatest abundance of epiphytes"
Raphia farinifera (Madagascar raphia palm) - Images / Web - Cymbidiella falcigera, Paralophia epiphytica - "The orchid grows near the base of the trunks of the palms, running through their leaf bases with the leaves and stems of the orchid hanging in a curtain all around the palm trunk."
Ravenea xerophila (Anivona Palm) - Images / Web / Link - Paralophia palmicola
Ravenia xerophila - Images / Web - Paralophia palmicola
Reynosia uncinata - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Rhododendron arboreum - Images / Web - Bulbophyllum affine, Bulbophyllum reptans, Bulbophyllum retusiusculum, Dendrobium longicornu, Epigenium rotundatum, Otochilus albus, Rhynchostylis retusa, Sunipia scariosa
Rhododendron barbatum - Images / Web - Diphylax urceolata
Richeria grandis - Images / Web - numerous species, reputed to have aphrodisiac properties
Roystonea elata (royal palm) - Images / Web - Campylocentrum pachyrrhizum, Epidendrum anceps, Epidendrum nocturnum
Sabal mexicana - Images / Web - Catasetum integerrimum
Sabal pumos - Images / Web - Clowesia glaucoglossa
Sabal rosei - Images / Web - Galeandra greenwoodiana
Salix bonplandiana (willow (ahuejote)) - Images / Web - "Ahuehuetes, ahuejotes and fresnos are good hosts for epiphytic orchids"
Sapindus saponaria - Images / Web - Oncidium cebolleta
Sapium insigne - Images / Web - Aerides odoratum, Bulbophyllum affine, Dendrobium aphyllum, Oberonia falconeri, Smitinandia micrantha
Sarcocephalus coadunatus (Leichardt) - Images / Web - Dendrobium smillieae
Schaefferia frutescens (Florida boxwood) - Images / Web - Tolumnia variegata
Schima wallichii - Images / Web - Acampe rigida, Aerides multiflora, Aerides odoratum, Agrostophyllum callosum, Bulbophyllum affine, Bulbophyllum careyanum, Bulbophyllum elatum, Bulbophyllum guttulatum, Bulbophyllum hirtum, Bulbophyllum odoratissimum, Bulbophyllum sterile, Bulbophyllum viridiflorum, Bulbophyllum wallichii, Cleisostoma filiforme, Coelogyne cristata, Coelogyne flaccida, Coelogyne fuliginosa, Coelogyne fuscescens, Coelogyne nitida, Coelogyne ovalis, Coelogyne prolifera, Coelogyne stricta, Cymbidium hookerianum, Cymbidium iridioides, Dendrobium anceps, Dendrobium aphyllum, Dendrobium densiflorum, Dendrobium denudans, Dendrobium eriiflorum, Dendrobium eriiflorum, Dendrobium fimbriatum, Dendrobium formosum, Dendrobium heterocarpum, Dendrobium hookerianum, Dendrobium moschatum, Dendrobium nobile, Epigenium amplum, Eria acervata, Eria amica, Eria coronaria, Eria discolor, Eria lasiopetala, Eria muscicola, Eria paniculata, Eria spicata, Eria stricta, Flickineria fugax, Liparis viridiflora, Luisia zeylanica, Monomeria barbata, Oberonia acaulis, Oberonia caulescens, Oberonia ensiformis, Oberonia mucronata, Oberonia pachyrachis, Ornithochilus difformis, Panisea uniflora, Phalaenopsis mannii, Pholidota articulata, Pholidota imbricata, Podochilus cultratus, Porpax elwesii, Rhynchostylis retusa, Smitinandia micrantha, Thunia alba, Trudelia cristata, Vanda coerulea, Vandopsis undulata
Senegalia catechu - Images / Web - Trudelia cristata
Shorea obtusa - Images / Web - Dendrobium scabrilingue
Shorea robusta - Images / Web - Acampe papillosa, Aerides odoratum, Ascocentrum ampullaceum, Bulbophyllum roxburghii, Dendrobium chrysanthum, Dendrobium denudans, Dendrobium fimbriatum, Dendrobium formosum, Dendrobium moschatum, Dendrobium peguanum, Dendrobium transparens, Eria discolor, Eria excavata, Eria extinctoria, Eria lasiopetala, Gastrochilus obliquus, Oberonia mucronata, Panisea uniflora, Papilionanthe teres, Phalaenopsis mannii, Pholidota articulata, Pteroceras teres, Trichotosia dasyphylla, Trudelia cristata,
Spirostachys africana - Images / Web - Ansellia africana
Spondias purpurea - Images / Web - Catasetum oerstedii, Cycnoches warscewiczii
Syzygium cordatum - Images / Web - Aerangis distincta, Mystacidium flanaganii, Mystacidium venosum, Polystachya albescens subsp imbricata, Polystachya ngomensis
Tabebuia heterophylla - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Talauma ovata - Images / Web - Rodriguesia decora, Ionopsis utricularioides
Tamarindus indica - Images / Web - Angraecum praestans
Tarchonanthus camphoratus - Images / Web - Polystachya ngomensis, Polystachya sandersonii
Taxodium distichum (cypress) - Images / Web - Cyrtopodium punctatum, Encyclia tampensis - Excellent phorophyte see Benzig's Bromeliaceae
Taxodium mucronatum (Montezuma cypress (ahuehuete) - Images / Web - Oncidium cebolleta - "Ahuehuetes, ahuejotes and fresnos are good hosts for epiphytic orchids"
Tectona grandis (Teak) - Images / Web - Dendrobium capra
Terminalia chebula - Images / Web - Acampe papillosa
Ternstroemia lineata - Images / Web - "greatest abundance of epiphytes"
Theobroma cacao - Images / Web - Trichocentrum ascendens
Trichospermum mexicanum - Images / Web - Erycina pusilla
Tristania conferta (brush box) - Images / Web - Dendrobium aemulum
Tristania rufescens - Images / Web - Dendrobium scabrilingue
Tristania suaveolens (swamp mahogany) - Images / Web - Dendrobium smillieae
Tristaniopsis laurina (Water Gum, Kanooka, swamp mahogany) - Images / Web - Dendrobium tetragonum
Tsuga dumosa (Himalayan Hemlock) - Images / Web - Gastochilus affinis
Uapaca kirkiana - Images / Web - Cyrtorchis crassifolia
Uniola virgata - Images / Web - Tetramicra ekmanii
Vellozia compacta - Images / Web - Constancia cipoencis
Vellozia piresiana - Images / Web - Constancia cipoencis, Epidendrum saxatile, Prosthechea vespa, Sophronitis brevipedunculata
Vitex mollis - Images / Web - Barkeria uniflora, Oncidium cebolleta
Wormia alata - Images / Web - Dendrobium nindii
Xerophyta retinervis - Images / Web - Polystachya zuluensis
Xerophyta splendens - Images / Web - Polystachya johnstonii, Polystachya zambesiaca
Ziziphus incurva - Images / Web - Cleisostoma racemiferum, Panisea uniflora
Ziziphus taylorii - Images / Web - Psychilis monensis
Some observations I've made here in Costa Rica:
ReplyDelete•Guitite (Acnistus arborescens) is often cited as great for orchids here among orchid enthusiasts and is pretty good for mounting orchids on a live tree as the bark is soft and spongy and has deep fissures. Orchids seem to love growing their roots on it. But they don't seem to like it very much as a germination site. Both in my yard and in more wild areas I've observed it as hardly having any orchids on it that haven't been put there by people. And where they do, it's generally where moss has grown a thick layer.
•Sobralias seem to like to germinate in association with ferns. I have pretty good results getting assorted Sobralia to germinate in the spongy root mats of epiphytic ferns of the genus Niphidium.
•Citrus × sinensis (orange) is indeed a pretty good phorophyte. in addition to the species already mentioned here I've also had luck with getting, Erycina pusilla, Trichocetrum crispiflora, and various species of Epidendrum, Prosthechea, Encyclia and Gongora to germinate in them.
•Crescentia sp.(calabash) seems to be a good dry climate phorophyte. The most common Orchid I've seen in them is Brassavola nodosa. Though most calabash don't have orchids, you will occasionally see some that have quite a lot.
•Mango trees are sort of a mixed bag. I've had a lot of orchids germinate in them, but most don't thrive and mounting orchids in a mango tree seems to slowly (over years) kill many. I'm guessing there is some sort of toxicity issue going on. Some orchids seem to be able to handel it though.
•While I've never seen much in the way of epiphytes in Spondias purpurea, which tends to occur in areas with a hard dry season, I have seen big Spondias mombin trees with various orchids growing wild in them.
•I've seen Encyclia stellata growing wild on teak trees.
One that I don't think is on the list that I've found will germinate various orchids is Caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito). I planted some for the fruit and so far Epidendrum nocturnum, Encyclia stellata and a Stellis have germinated on it. And others have told me that they often have orchids growing in them.
wow! ever since 2011, when i sowed laelia anceps seeds on my tree and they germinated, i've tried to find anyone in the tropics doing the same but didn't have much luck, which was really surprising. but it sounds like you're doing exactly what i would do if i lived in the tropics!
Deleteplease tell me that you document your results on youtube, facebook, or instagram...?
it sounds like you're also into tropical fruit. are you on the tropical fruit forum and/or orchidboard?
I came to this page from a link posted in a comment on Orchidboard. I'm assuming you're epiphyte78 there? I'm SG in CR.
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