Andes: Venezuela
The northern part of the S-American cordillera is relatively humid. Its uplands lack the dry interior and altiplano which is so typical of the southern Andes. Relicts of Polylepis sericea forests up to 4100 m indicate that much of today's "páramos" is man made (fire and grazing).
1 -
Pico Bolivar with its glacier (5007 m) near the city of Merida.
2 -
Arcytophyllum caracasanum
(Rubiaceae),
Espeletia schulzii
and
Valeriana pauciflora
dominate the páramos near the treeline.
5 -
Succulent
Echevaria venezuelensis
(Crassulaceae; see
Mexico) and
Castillea fissifolia
(Scrophulariaceae; see
Rocky Mts.)
in the background (4050 m).
6 -
Pernettya elliptica
(Ericaceae)
7 -
Gentiana nevadensis
(Gentianaceae) (Bolivar, 4120 m)
8 -
Malvestrum acaule
(Malvaceae)
9 -
Lobelia tenera
(Campanulaceae) (3900 m). Compare their giant relatives in
equatorial Africa.
10 -
Tall herb fields:
Senecio formosum
(Asteraceae) (Paso Aguila, 4100 m).
11 -
Hypericum laricifolium
(Hypericaceae) (4100 m)
12 -
Lupinus meridanus
(Fabaceae)
13 -
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae) (near Paso Aguila, 4250 m)
15 -
Espeletia timotensis
(Asteraceae) (3900 m)
16 -
A giant
Espeletia
(Asteraceae) cut: Note the stem is protected by a thick coat of dead leaf bases.
