This list includes the 85 species of vascular plant species found most frequently growing as epiphytes in Florida. Eighty two are considered native species and three are escaped exotic species (marked with *). Some of these species are quite rare, or possibly extirpated from Florida, whereas others can be seen throughout the state. An additional 70 species have been found growing epiphytically in Florida, but are more commonly found growing as terrestrials.
Family Genus species Author
Lycophytes
Lycopodiaceae Huperzia dichotoma (Jacq.) Trevis
Selaginellaceae Selaginella eatonii Hieron. ex Small
Pteridophytes
Aspleniaceae Asplenium serratum L.
Aspleniaceae Asplenium erosum L.
Hymenophyllaceae Trichomanes holopterum Kuntze
Hymenophyllaceae Trichomanes krausii Hook. & Grev.
Hymenophyllaceae Trichomanes petersii A. Gray
Nephrolepidaceae Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott
Nephrolepidaceae Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott
Ophioglossaceae Ophioglossum palmatum L.
Polypodiaceae Campyloneurum angustifolium (Sw.) Fée
Polypodiaceae Campyloneurum costatum (Kunze) C. Presl
Polypodiaceae Campyloneurum phyllitidis (L.) C. Presl
Polypodiaceae Microgramma heterophylla (L.) Wherry
Polypodiaceae Neurodium lanceolatum (L.) Fée
Polypodiaceae Pecluma dispersa (A.M. Evans) M.G. Price
Polypodiaceae Pecluma plumula (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) M.G. Evans
Polypodiaceae Pecluma ptilodon (Kunze) M.G. Price
Polypodiaceae Phlebodium aureum (L.) J. Sm.
Polypodiaceae Pleopeltis astrolepis (Liebm.) E. Fourn.
Polypodiaceae Pleopeltis polypodioides
var. michauxiana (Weatherby) E.G. Andrews & Windham
Polypodiaceae Polypodium triseriale Sw.
Psilotaceae Psilotum nudum (L.) P. Beauv.
Thelypteridaceae Thelypteris reticulata (L.) Proctor
Vittariaceae Vittaria lineata (L.) Sm.
Spermatophytes
*Araceae Syngonium podophyllum Schott
Bromeliaceae Catopsis berteroniana (Schult. f.) Mez
Bromeliaceae Catopsis floribunda (Brongn.) L.B. Sm.
Bromeliaceae Catopsis nutans (Sw.) Griseb.
Bromeliaceae Guzmania monostachia (L.) Rusby ex Mez
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia balbisiana
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia bartramii Elliot
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia fasciculata
var. clavispica Mez
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia flexuosa Sw.
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia paucifolia Baker
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia pruinosa Sw.
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L.
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia setacea Sw.
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia simulata Small
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia utriculata L.
Bromeliaceae Tillandsia variabilis Schltdl.
Cactaceae Rhipsalis baccifera (J.S. Mill.) Stearn
Moraceae Ficus aurea Nutt.
Moraceae Ficus citrifolia Mill.
*Moraceae Ficus microcarpa L. f.
Orchidaceae Bletia purpurea
Orchidaceae Brassia caudata
Orchidaceae Bulbophyllum pachyrachis (A. Rich.) Griseb.
Orchidaceae Campylocentrum pachyrrhizum (Rchb.f.) Rolfe
Orchidaceae Cyrtopodium punctatum (L.) Lindl.
Orchidaceae Dendrophylax lindenii (Lindl.) Benth. ex Rolfe
*Orchidaceae Encyclia rufa (Lindl. Britton & Millsp.
Orchidaceae Encyclia tampensis (Lindl.) Small
Orchidaceae Epidendrum anceps Jacq
Orchidaceae Epidendrum blanchetanum Urb.
Orchidaceae Epidendrum conopseum R.Br.
Orchidaceae Epidendrum floridense Hágsater
Orchidaceae Epidendrum nocturnum Jacq
Orchidaceae Epidendrum rigidum Jacq
Orchidaceae Epidendrum strobiliferum Rchb.f.
Orchidaceae Harrisella porrecta (Rchb.f.) Fawc. & Rendle
Orchidaceae Ionopsis utricularioides (Sw.) Lindl
Orchidaceae Lepanthopsis melanantha (Rchb.f.) Ames
Orchidaceae Macradenia lutescens R.Br.
Orchidaceae Maxillaria crassifolia (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
Orchidaceae Maxillaria parviflora (Poepp. & Endl.) Garay
Orchidaceae Oncidium carthagenense (Jacq.) Sw.
Orchidaceae Oncidium ensatum Lindl.
Orchidaceae Pleurothallis gelida Lindl.
Orchidaceae Polystachya concreta (Jacq.) Garay & H.R. Sweet
Orchidaceae Prosthechea cochleata (L.) W.E.Higgins
Orchidaceae Prosthechea pygmaea (Hook.) W.E.Higgins
Orchidaceae Prosthechea boothiana
var. erythronioides (Small) W.E. Higgins
Orchidaceae Tolumnia bahamensis (Nash ex Britton & Millsp.) Braem
Orchidaceae Trichocentrum undulatum (Sw.) Ackerman & M.W. Chase
Orchidaceae Vanilla barbellata Rchb.f.
Orchidaceae Vanilla dilloniana Correll
Orchidaceae Vanilla phaeantha Rchb.f.
Piperaceae Peperomia alata Ruiz & Pav.
Piperaceae Peperomia glabella (Sw.) A. Dietr.
Piperaceae Peperomia humilis A. Dietr.
Piperaceae Peperomia magnoliifolia (Jacq.) A. Dietr.
Piperaceae Peperomia obtusifolia (L.) A. Dietr.
Urticaceae Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm.
Compiled by Bruce Holst, Heather Hill & John Beckner, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens