Epidendrum conopseum W.T. Aiton. Green-fly Orchid. Phen: Jul-Nov. Hab: Epiphytic on limbs of trees, especially Magnolia grandiflora, Quercus virginiana, and Taxodium spp., in blackwater river swamps, tidal freshwater swamps, and mesic hardwood hammocks, usually on relatively horizontal limbs mixed with Pleopeltis michauxiana, also rarely in crevices of Altamaha Grit outcrops. Dist: The northernmost epiphytic orchid: se. NC south to c. peninsular FL, west to w. LA; disjunct in ne. Mexico (Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas). All other species of Epidendrum in the flora are limited to c. and s. FL. It is locally rather common, but rarely seen as it occurs primarily in blackwater swamps, on upper limbs of Taxodium, Nyssa, Planera, and other trees, typically mixed with Pleopeltis. See Correll (1936) for additional discussion of this species at its northern limit.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Hágsater (2000) argued that E. magnoliae Muhlenberg has nomenclatural priority over E. conopseum R. Brown; Franck in Weakley et al. (2018a) rebutted that argument. Two varieties are sometimes recognized (Brown 2002): var. conopseum, with green or yellow flowers fragrant during the day, and var. mexicanum, with yellow flowers with bronze and green tints fragrant at night. They need additional study.

Synonymy: = K3, K4, RAB, S13, WH3, Correll (1950), Franck (2018a) in Weakley et al (2018a), Luer (1972); = Amphiglottis conopsea (W.T.Aiton) Small – S; = Epidendrum magnoliae Muhl. – FNA26; > Epidendrum conopseum W.T.Aiton var. conopseum – K1; > Epidendrum conopseum W.T.Aiton var. mexicanum L.O.Williams – K1; > Epidendrum magnoliae Muhl. var. magnoliae – Brown (2002); > Epidendrum magnoliae Muhl. var. mexicanum (L.O.Williams) P.M.Br. – Brown (2002)

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Heliophily ?: 4