I am just back from a remarkable three week trip in Northern Peru. I hope to have a web page up shortly with some of the many pictures taken during this trip. I am a complete ninny when it comes to South American orchids, and I would value help in putting names to faces. However, it was interesting to see a 50m wall of Phragmipediums growing like rock plants in full sun exposure, and to find that at least 50% of the ground cover in one open, grassy location - dry, 3500m - was a mixture of Pleurothallids, Oncidiums, Maxillarias and what I was later told was a Lycaste species. Genera that I had been led to understand were frail, water-seeking little things (Stellis sp., amongst others) were abundant on sun-facing rocks in semi-desert, whilst supposed sun lovers (Rodriguezia, if I have spelled that correctly) lurk within dank, moss clad shrubberies.
I am particularly struck by the convergence between Asian and South American species with respect to their ecological niches. Pleurothallids and Bulbophyllums share more than insect pollination: they occupy similar niches and develop similar habits within them, as do many other genera. It was also odd to see naturalized Arundina species fighting it out with Sobralias and Epidendrons for their niche. The Arundinas have evolved into robust, cane-like plants in the few decades during which they have expanded into the selva, nothing like the more gracile Asia natives. ______________________________ Oliver Sparrow +44 (0)20 7736 9716 www.chforum.org _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
