Dear Ogd's and Charles
In the Florida keys there is a navy airbase outside of Key West. The
military at one time dug some very deep channels into the island that
can be accessed by boat. Three weeks ago i took my kids out kneeboarding
and they wanted to use a swing that is at the end of one of the
channels. While they were occupied there I decided to walk around on the
land between the channels that in the 60's was draglined and all
vegatation was cleared. Since then an Australian Pine forest has emerged
which is normal for these parts on scarified land. Once the Aussie pines
get going nothing else will grow in the deep pine needle detrius that
builds up below the pines. As I was poking aeround I saw n Oeoclades
maculata in bloom and then another and another. In a 3 acre area there
must be close to 1000 plants all in bloom and with seedlings coming up
all around. Needless to say I was surprised as almost nothing grow in
the pine needles in florida as they are so acidic and for that reason
they are trying to eradicate this tree.
So as far as this area near Key West is concerned scarified land
carries more orchids than non scarified as the best native orchid stand
here is Encyclia tampense and the best spot has maybe 20 to 35 plants.
Jay Pfahl
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