This section describes three of nine basic groups of orchids and is an introduction to orchids. Introduction to Orchids...101 (Part 2) The three pages were designed to provide an "orchid pre-primer" to those who have limited knowledge of orchids and want introductory information. Perhaps, more experienced orchid enthusiasts might find interesting facts, as well. The source for this information was Wikipedia (Wiki Website) which is a collaboratively edited, multilingual, free-access, free content Internet encyclopedia that is supported and hosted by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation and owned by Wikimedia Foundation. Please note that each section is notated by the use of a linking button to each specific Wikipedia webpage as a means of referencing the source. The EALOC publisher/editor extracted basic information and photographs from Wikipedia about each of nine orchid groups for this EALOC website. Next to each title is a button where the reader may want to go to the Wikipedia website for indepth reading regarding each specific orchid group. Encyclia · Greek enkykleomai ("to encircle"), referring to the lateral lobes of the lip which encircle the column. · Occurs in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and other regions of the tropical Americas and grows in lowland forests at altitudes up to 1,000 meters. · Most of these species are found in seasonally dry forests where the humidity tends to remain high throughout the year, though precipitation is infrequent, sometimes lacking for months. They are most common in dry oak forests. · Most species have stiff, drought-resistant leaves and large onion- shaped pseudobulbs. · Many are cultivated as ornamental plants. · Flowers may last over a month. · Easily overwatered and require only a periodic misting during the winter. · Have continuously growing rhizomes that eventually create a large mass. In cultivation, growers will divide them by hand to prevent the plants from forming unwieldy mounds. An exception is Encyclia tampensis which does well in a mounded form and does not need to be divided. Go To Wikipedia Oncidium · First described by Olof Swartz in 1800 with the orchid Oncidium altissimum , which has become the type species. · Name derived from the Greek word onkos , meaning "swelling" and refers to the callus at the lower lip. · Widespread from northern Mexico, the Caribbean, and some parts of South Florida (one species) to South America and usually in seasonally dry areas. · Most species are epiphytes (grows in trees), although some are lithophytes (grows in or on rocks) or terrestrials. · Characterized by the presence of column wings, presence of a complicated callus on the lip, pseudobulbs with one to three leaves, and several basal bracts at the base of the pseudobulbs. · Flowers come in shades of yellow, red, white and pink. Petals are often ruffled on the edges, as is the lip. The lip is enormous, partially blocking the small petals and sepals. Go To Wikipedia Paphiopedium · Genus name established by Ernst Hugo Heinrich Pfitzer in 1886. · Derived from Paphos (a city in Cyprus, a place sacred to Aphrodite and ancient Greek pedilon "slipper". Ironically, no paphiopedilum is found on Cyprus. Often called the “Venus slipper”. · Native to Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, New Guinea and the Solomon and Bismarck Islands. · Naturally occurs among humus layers as terrestrials on the forest floor, while a few are true epiphytes (grows in trees) and some are lithophytes (grows in or on rocks). · Lack pseudobulbs and, instead, grow robust shoots, each with several leaves. · Commonly referred to as the "lady's-slippers" or "slipper orchids" due to the unusual shape of the pouch-like labellum of the flower. · Pouch traps insects seeking nectar. · Never been successfully cloned for unknown reasons, thus, every plant is unique. Go To Wikipedia Return to Introduction Menu Introduction, Part 3

This page displays pictures of the February meeting "Share and Learn" orchids brought by club members. Learning Through Sharing This page is dedicated to showing the plants that members brought from their personal collections to share with others at a monthly meeting. Thereby, club members learn through sharing. Each plant is presented, discussed, admired and appreciated. An added feature of this sharing activity results in members feeling closer to each other, creating an atmosphere of friendship and closeness. May 2025 Brazilian Sun Orchid “Samba” Diane Dickhut Prosthechen fragrans x sib Nuria Cid Pptm. La Jolla Delight Diane Dickhut Return to "Share and Learn" Page

This page displays pictures of the February meeting "Share and Learn" orchids brought by club members. Learning Through Sharing This page is dedicated to showing the plants that members brought from their personal collections to share with others at a monthly meeting. Thereby, club members learn through sharing. Each plant is presented, discussed, admired and appreciated. An added feature of this sharing activity results in members feeling closer to each other, creating an atmosphere of friendship and closeness. April 2026 SORRY... APRIL MEETING WAS CANCELLED. CLUB SCHEDULED A FIELD TRIP. NO "SHARE AND LEARN" PLANTS AVAILABLE Return to "Share and Learn" Page

This page allows for current members to renew the annual membership online. EALOC Membership Renewals This page is dedicated to current members who want to renew their memberships. Annual membership fees are due each January. Dues should be paid by March. If later, those members will not be eligible to receive a holiday plant at the annual holiday party. It's easy to renew and it can be done using this page. Just download and complete the form below. You may e-mail the form, as well as pay online. That's all there is to it !!! Directions : Click on the PDF file . The document will automatically be ready for downloading and saving to the user's computer. NOTE : New Dues Increase ... $25.00 (Include $2.00 Payment Fee) Save, print and co mplete the application. Then, e-mail the form to the website publisher. When sending the application, type in the subject box the following information: "MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL" Send form to ealoclub@gmail.com . Renew any time via PayPal or Credit Card. It's quick and easy!!! Click on "Remit Dues" button below. Choose payment method, "PayPal" or "Credit Card".

This page describes the six parts of every monthly meeting: speaker, door prize drawings, silent auction, show and tell, raffle ticket sales and refreshments. Monthly Meeting Features The club meets in the WC 130 classroom, next to the Wertheim Conservatory at FIU on the third Friday of every month. The meetings are informal, friendly, educational, informative, interesting, and fun! Meeting attendance is a way to get to know people better, share growing tips, gain knowledge and receive free advice or help with problem plants. It is also an opportunity to acquire more orchids via the silent auction and plant raffles. Guests are always welcome. Refreshments are brought in by those members who volunteer to bring them. There is a silent auction table at each meeting, as well as a "Show and Tell" table where members bring in their beautiful flowering plants to share with the rest of the club members. At some meetings, the "Show and Tell" table is so abundant that it's like a mini orchid show. Club dues are only $15.00 a year, a real bargain!!! Guest Speaker Each month a different speaker is invited to talk to the group. These speakers are experts in many different areas relating to orchid collections and care. Silent Auction In addition to the three kinds of raffles, members have the opportunity to bid on a variety of different plants in silent auctions. Individuals furnish these plants in the hopes of being able to sell them. Door Prize Drawings In addition to the raffle, three drawings are held. One is a "members only" raffle where one wins by having the member's number drawn at random. Another drawing for a plant is for a lucky person who is a member of the American Orchid Society (AOS). The third drawing is based upon a separate ticket that is attached to the row of purchased tickets. Show and Tell Members bring in their treasured orchids to share with the group. To encourage greater member participation, ribbons are not awarded. Thus, members feel less intimidated to bring in their plants. Everyone learns through "sharing". Raffle Ticket Sales A variety of extraordinary plants are provided by the club. Raffle tickets may be bought by everyone. This is a great way to get quality plants for a nominal cost. Having fun is the end result. Refreshments On a monthly basis, members sign up to bring refreshments. Members have the chance to socialize while enjoying snacks during the break after the speaker presentation and before the "show and tell" and raffle sessions. Visit EALOC On Facebook

This page displays pictures of the June meeting "Share and Learn" orchids brought by club members. Learning Through Sharing This page is dedicated to showing the plants that members brought from their personal collections to share with others at a monthly meeting. Thereby, club members learn through sharing. Each plant is presented, discussed, admired and appreciated. An added feature of this sharing activity results in members feeling closer to each other, creating an atmosphere of friendship and closeness. June 2026 Encyclia Orchid Jungle Alexis Dominguez and Nuria Cid B. Bill Osment Brassavola nodosa var. dwarf x appendiculata Jorge Li Miltasia Shelob Okika Alexis Dominguez and Nuria Cid Dendrobium Jenkinsii Alexis Dominguez and Nuria Cid Encylicia Tampensis Alexis Dominguez and Nuria Cid Return to "Share and Learn" Page

This page is dedicated to providing interesting, informative and use website links for the orchid enthusiasts. This page will continue to add new links. Interesting, Informational and Useful Websites (Part 3) Below are website links that were selected for being interesting, informational and/or useful for orchid enthusiasts. Readers are encouraged to give feedback, as well as send additional website links to the webmaster. Please go to the "Feedback and About" webpage to offer feedback and other website links. The reader's input is the key to making this page helpful to everyone. Link FTBG - WHITMAN TROPICAL FRUIT PAVILLION . This video presents the newly renovated Whitman Tropical Fruits Pavillion, narrated by Chad Husby, Ph.D., Chief Explorer, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The exhibit now allows visitors to walk through a rainforest cloud. Besides tropical fruit trees, orchids are displayed. When the fruit trees are not in bloom, the orchids provide visual enjoyment to the visitor's experience. Link FTBG - GARDEN EXPLORER . One is now able to explore Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's extensive living collection with a simple search by name, family, or plot number. Finding some of our other highlights, such as our permanent Chihuly glass sculptures, ponds, and exhibits are also made easy by selecting features on the main menu. Just type in either a common or Latin name and it will locate on the garden's map where the plant. Access can be by computer or phone. If one is physically in the garden, it's a useful tool, Link The Orchid Mall - Orchid Societies The website links to orchid societies around the world by region. EALOC is also listed. Please note the many of the society sites have information on culture, plants of interest in the area and other helpful information. They are well worth "checking out." Link The Uses and Misuses of Orchids in Medicine Orchid products, the tubers, leaves or flowers, were introduced into medicine with no testing for human use, and ultimately their use has declined, not through being proven ineffective, but more through lack of evidence and changes in fashion. This article examines the medicinal uses of orchid plants in the Orient, Europe, the Americas, Australia and Africa, and concludes by examining their usage today. Link "Flower of the Holy Spirit" Orchid and Other Videos This website provides many, many videos of unusual flowers found around the world. Some of these flowers have been referenced in previous links on EALOC's website. Especially, check out the "The Flower of the Holy Spirit" orchid. Interesting Websites, (Part 1) Interesting Websites, (Part 4)

This page is dedicated to providing interesting, informative and use website links for the orchid enthusiasts. This page will continue to add new links. Interesting, Informational and Useful Websites (Part 4) Below are website links that were selected for being interesting, informational and/or useful for orchid enthusiasts. Readers are encouraged to give feedback, as well as send additional website links to the webmaster. Please go to the "Feedback and About" webpage to offer feedback and other website links. The reader's input is the key to making this page helpful to everyone. Link Amazing Trees This website's contents aren't about orchids. However, the trees that are pictured at this site are simply superb. Nature is a wonderous things. Orchids are unquestionably beautiful, but these trees are equally astounding!!! Even though they're not orchids, they're truly worthy of being shared and enjoyed. Link Dracula Vampire Orchid Dracula Vampira Orchid is sometimes called the Black Orchid, This Dracula Vampira Orchid grows in the heated greenhouse. Being in the purtho family this orchid blooms best with low to medium light, (Phalaenopsis orchid is bright, but not cattleya orchid) and intermediate to cool temps. Link An Orchid By A ny Other Name: An Asparagus? This is an article regarding the relationship of the orchid and the asparagus. What??? It's now being said that "scientists say, studies of the DNA of orchids are revealing a host of surprises, chief among them, that orchids are actually part of the asparagus group, closer kin to these vegetables than to the other, flashier, flowering plants they had been placed with before." Link The Wonders of Blooming Flowers This is not a website. Rather, it's a link to a video which enables the viewer to observe a variety of flowers in the process of blooming. Each flower was filmed for two days to get the effect of the blossoming process. Even though this video is not orchid-specfic, it's worth the time for all lovers of flowers to experience. Sit back and smell the flowers. Gail Eller is credited for sharing this link. Link Monkey Orchid The Monkey Orchid , also known as Orchid Simia or Dracula Simia (monkey dragon), has its home in the forests of Peru and Ecuador, and it grows at about 2000 feet above sea levels. It was given its name by botanist Carlyle A. Lauren back in 1978, due to its resemblance to the funny animal. There are 118 known varieties of this orchid in Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, where half of them are located. Interesting Websites, (Part 1) Interesting Websites, (Part 5