What is the common name of the orchid Dendrophylax lindenii?

The common name of the orchid Dendrophylax lindenii is the ghost orchid.

This rare, leafless epiphyte is native to Florida and Cuba. Instead of broad leaves, it consists mainly of a network of flattened green roots attached to tree trunks. Those roots carry out most of the plant's photosynthesis, while their specialized outer covering helps absorb water and nutrients.

When the orchid blooms, its white flowers can appear to float in mid-air because the roots blend so closely with the tree. The flowers usually open between June and August and produce a fruity fragrance that is strongest in the morning. The species name lindenii honors Belgian plant collector Jean Jules Linden, who encountered it in Cuba in 1844.

Ghost orchid is not a name unique to this species: the Eurasian orchid Epipogium aphyllum is also called a ghost orchid. Dendrophylax lindenii is often called the American ghost orchid to distinguish it. It is difficult to cultivate and is threatened by habitat loss and illegal collection, making wild plants legally protected in Florida.