You have Encyclia tampensis. Very nice. (They're native to Florida.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Look Here!

...it is protected by law (collection from the wild is prohibited)

From the link Clint included ...

Olya

Thanks for the ID, clint!...and the link.
Olya...I also read this..." While it is protected by law (collection from the wild is prohibited) sometimes private growers propagate and share it."

I should have stated that the house/yard is not actually 'vacant'.
The owners are here only part time and are very nice folks.
They told us we could have cuttings, etc., of anything in their yard because when they move down permanently next year, they will be totally re-vamping the landscaping.

So...my question would be...was it still a "No-No" to take the plant? I hope not!
Rest assured, if I knew it was a protected species, I never would have taken it.

BTW: Most of the plants still intact on the tree are half dead.
...and to think I thought I was 'saving' a living thing.
Now I feel bad.........

Hmm..I don't know. I would say that "collection from the wild" wouldn't apply if the plant were growing on someone's property.

Like the Texas Bluebonnet law, you can only pick them if they are on private property. Picking them on public lands is against the law....but then again, I'm no lawyer.

Lellie,

Hmm, it says that the plant is listed as "commercially exploited" and not threatened or endangered. However, it is still legally listed and I think that you cannot take or disturb the plant even on private property.

You could always contact your native plant society and ask! I'm sure they'll know. And if it is ok to take, and your neighbors redo their yard I bet the society would love to come help do a plant salvage and redistribute the plants!

Thanks coey...maybe I'll just do that. (contact them)

Lellie,

I am not sure ..but it is my understanding that wild grown, no matter where, it protected. When nurseries propagate it from a seed, it is a different story...

If you can, do contact a local orchid society. Tampa Orchid Club was once dealing with a similar situation - a big oak fell down on someone else's property, with a nice clump of E. tampensis...They - TOC folks - were asked to come out and help out with the plant.

It is a beautiful plants! Good luck growing it, it is well worth it :)

Olya

THAT IS SOOOO AMAZING!!! I live in north western MO so its almost impossible for me to find a wild orchid but i am in a constant search anyways. i am sooo jealous can you give me any tips on how to find them and the best places to look. (please...)

dark_moon,

are you looking for a wild orchid to take a picture of? I hope so :)

Olya

That is a wild florida orchid. Lived there for 34 years. Finding one outside of the everglades is a treat. They are protected btw. I really miss them! Congratulations.
Shiela

so pretty! yes, that's a Encyclia tampensis, or butterfly orchid. i'm pretty sure if it was given to you from someone's property, it's totally fine. i wouldn't worry about it. my boyfriends parents gave me a couple of green-flys that was on a branch in their yard in florida, and it didn't bother me b/c i didn't go out and "collect" them or anything.

Thank you for all your replies!
I felt I must post a pic of it now...in full bloom.
The bloom is about the size of a quarter.
Please, enjoy...it is just the prettiest little orchid!

{{gwi:174655}}

(olyagrove) yeah i recently became very intrested in photogrophy and am completly captivated by the extravegence of the orchid family of the plant kingdom. I never see any orchids in there natural habitat and i fell they would make excelent photos!

just making sure :)

it is a touchy subject here...

Thus, my tips on where to look...hard to reach, accessible by foot only places where humans do not get to too often...places that have not been cleaned out by zealous collectors.

I collect pictures of orchids in situ whenever I come across them - pictures - online. Quite fascinating seeing them in the wild...

Olya