Andes: Ecuador
At c. 4000 m elevation woodlands of
Polylepis
and
Gynoxis
would naturally give way to tall tussock grassland, shrubs and giant rosettes forming páramos
vegetation. Quite often this transition is seen at lower elevation because of fire management.
The Ecuadorian páramos region is a rather humid environment, only above 4500 m at some of
the high volcanoes of central Ecuador can it get drier.
1 -
Tall tussock grassland at 4000 m near Paso de la Virgen (with
Poa,
Festuca,
Agrostis
and
Stipa
(all Poaceae) species) 3 hours' driving distance from Quito.
1 -
Tall tussock grassland at 4000 m near Paso de la Virgen (with
Poa,
Festuca,
Agrostis
and
Stipa
(all Poaceae) species) 3 hours' driving distance from Quito.
2 -
Chuquiraga sp.
(Asteraceae) (Paso de la Virgen, 4000 m)
2 -
Chuquiraga sp.
(Asteraceae) (Paso de la Virgen, 4000 m)
3 -
Peculiar rosettes of
Werneria sp.
(Asteraceae).
3 -
Peculiar rosettes of
Werneria sp.
(Asteraceae).
4 -
Hypochoeris sp.
(Asteraceae) (Páramos de la Virgen).
4 -
Hypochoeris sp.
(Asteraceae) (Páramos de la Virgen).
5 -
The
bromeliad
Puya sp.
(Bromeliaceae) forms giant rosettes and similarly gigantic inflorescences (4000 m).
5 -
The
bromeliad
Puya sp.
(Bromeliaceae) forms giant rosettes and similarly gigantic inflorescences (4000 m).
6 -
An old
Puya
inflorescence (4000 m).
6 -
An old
Puya
inflorescence (4000 m).
7 -
Vegetative rosettes of
Puya sp.
(4000 m).
7 -
Vegetative rosettes of
Puya sp.
(4000 m).
8 -
Páramos el Angel (3600 m), with "giant rosette"
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae).
8 -
Páramos el Angel (3600 m), with "giant rosette"
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae).
9 -
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae)
9 -
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae)
10 -
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae)
10 -
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae)
11 -
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae). Note the thin layer of water intercepted from fog and prevented from wetting the
epidermis by pubescence.
11 -
Espeletia sp.
(Asteraceae). Note the thin layer of water intercepted from fog and prevented from wetting the
epidermis by pubescence.
12 -
Lupinus allepecuroides
(Fabaceae). In the footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt on Guagua Pichincha near Quito
(4400 m).
12 -
Lupinus allepecuroides
(Fabaceae). In the footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt on Guagua Pichincha near Quito
(4400 m).
13 -
Lupinus allepecuroides
(Fabaceae). Leaves are covered with white hair.
13 -
Lupinus allepecuroides
(Fabaceae). Leaves are covered with white hair.
14 - The Cayambe volcano (5790 m).
14 - The Cayambe volcano (5790 m).
15 -
Azorella sp.
(4700 m)
15 -
Azorella sp.
(4700 m)
16 -
A mix of cushion plants (
Azorella sp.
(Apiaceae),
Hypochoeris sp.
(Asteraceae),
Cerastium
(Caryphyllaceae)) and
Culcitium nivale
(Asteraceae) (Cayambe, 4600 m).
16 -
A mix of cushion plants (
Azorella sp.
(Apiaceae),
Hypochoeris sp.
(Asteraceae),
Cerastium
(Caryphyllaceae)) and
Culcitium nivale
(Asteraceae) (Cayambe, 4600 m).
17 -
Azorella
cushion (4600 m).
17 -
Azorella
cushion (4600 m).
18 -
Culcitium nivale
(Asteraceae) (Cayambe, 4600 m). Compare the inflorescence with
Espeletia lutescens
in Venezuela.
18 -
Culcitium nivale
(Asteraceae) (Cayambe, 4600 m). Compare the inflorescence with
Espeletia lutescens
in Venezuela.
19 -
Note the narrow range of diurnal temperatures in this almost permanently foggy elevation
between 4500 and 4700 m.
19 -
Note the narrow range of diurnal temperatures in this almost permanently foggy elevation
between 4500 and 4700 m.
20 -
Agrostis sp.
(Poaceae) (4800 m).
20 -
Agrostis sp.
(Poaceae) (4800 m).
21 -
A selection of typical high Andean plant species at 4700 m elevation on Cayambe:
Cerastium sp.
(Caryophyllaceae),
Culcitium nivale
(Asteraceae),
Luzula sp.
(Juncaceae),
Hypochoeris sp.
(Asteraceae),
Azorella sp.
(Apiaceae, center), small rosettes of
Draba sp.
(Brassicaceae),
Aa sp.
(Orchidaceae, bottom center),
Hybertia sp.
(Lycopodiaceae, right).
21 -
A selection of typical high Andean plant species at 4700 m elevation on Cayambe:
Cerastium sp.
(Caryophyllaceae),
Culcitium nivale
(Asteraceae),
Luzula sp.
(Juncaceae),
Hypochoeris sp.
(Asteraceae),
Azorella sp.
(Apiaceae, center), small rosettes of
Draba sp.
(Brassicaceae),
Aa sp.
(Orchidaceae, bottom center),
Hybertia sp.
(Lycopodiaceae, right).
22 -
Leaf shape patterns at 4700 m on Cayambe. The biggest (white) leaf is from
Culcitium nivale
and is c. 12 cm long (see Fig. 18).
22 -
Leaf shape patterns at 4700 m on Cayambe. The biggest (white) leaf is from
Culcitium nivale
and is c. 12 cm long (see Fig. 18).