photo by Orchi (via Wikipedia Commons)
If you like flowers then a Colombian adventure should definitely be in your bucket list. It is estimated that Colombia is home to 130,000 species of plants, and there are more endemic species of flora (10% of the planet’s species) than anywhere else in the world. With so many beautiful and unique plants, it’s no wonder that Colombia is also the home of the most orchids, with 4,000 different species! These exotic and delicate flowers grow wild in the cloud forests and rainforests. You might just see a few wild orchids on a customized tour with Uncharted Colombia, so brush up on your orchid knowledge (including how to spot some shady black market dealings) and check out a few of our favorite flowers below.
photo by Dick Culbert (via Wikipedia Commons)
The Colombian National Flower
Cattleya trianae is the national flower of Colombia, and it’s easy to see why. This exquisite, lavender beauty is the embodiment of the word “orchid.” It’s frilly, it’s perfectly proportioned, and its color is divine. Some of its common names include “Flor de Mayo” (May Flower) and “Christmas Orchid.” Adopted as the national flower in 1936, Cattleya trianae grows in the cloud forests of the Andes and is considered endangered because of shrinking habitat.
photo by User Toapel (via Wikipedia Commons)
A Dracula Orchid?
Dracula lotax does have a dramatic name, but it’s not from the infamous vampire created by Bram Stoker. Instead, they were given their name dracula because they resembled “little dragons” to the namer, Millian Fiske. They grow in the Andean region of Colombia and prefer cooler temperatures, where they thrive and bloom. Even though they are not named after Dracula, they do seem to resemble a pale, open-mouth with fangs. Will this beauty also put you under its spell? You will have to find out for yourself!
photo by Quimbaya (via Flickr)
Cloud Forests are Perfect
Well, they are perfect for growing orchids, anyway. Several of Colombia’s endemic orchids grow the best in the cool, abundant moisture of the cloud forests, like Stanhopea platyceras, with its creamy petals covered in plum spots, and Masdevallia angulifera, a bell-shaped flower with triangular petals. These species don’t fit the traditional idea of an orchid, but they are unconventional and embody an extravagant beauty, that is symbolic of Colombia itself.
photo by Orchi (via Wikipedia Commons)
A Growing Epidemic
It is illegal to trade orchids across borders without a permit, and you cannot trade those picked in the wild at all. “Trafficking” of Colombia’s rare orchids is a serious problem, especially with several species such as Cattleya trianae, which can be found for meager prices in some Bogotá markets, in spite of its endangered status. In the United States, if you are found smuggling orchids, it could result in thousands of dollars in fines and possible jail time. Enjoy the orchids on a trek and take plenty of photos, but this is a perfect instance of embracing a “leave no trace” mentality.
Uncharted Colombia’s Los Nevados Traverse will take you through unique paramos and cloud forests of the Andean region, where many of the native species of orchids grow. Perhaps you will find a new species - one was just recently discovered in 2015. An adventure tour of Colombia has the potential for exciting discoveries at every turn, so don’t let them pass you by; Colombia is waiting.