Espeletia hartwegiana, La Cocha Páramo, Colombia

Remote misty view of a group of Espeletia hartwegiana, which are numerous in the Páramo ecosystem. They can grow up to about 3m tall.

comments (6)

Christine Young

Lion

You probably won't have any idea what I'm talking about, but it reminds me of Dagobah - where Yoda lives. Posted 6 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I wasn't aware of the name of the planet, but totally remember the scene! 80's kid like you :) Posted 6 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Did you know that these plants are Colombia's main source of fresh water? They actually have a whole group of soldiers whose job it is to grow frailejónes.

"Roughly 70 percent of Colombia’s population gets their water from the páramos, where the frailejón is a “keystone species,” meaning that the other plants and animals of its ecosystem depend upon it for their own survival. Humans too, are dependent on this native plant: In the perpetually foggy páramos, the frailejón traps tremendous amounts of fog on its downy surface. The fog sticks to the frailejóns’ skin as water droplets, which fall to the ground when they grow sufficiently heavy. The accumulated water flows into the lakes and rivers that act as reservoirs for both drinking water and hydroelectricity for most of the country."
(http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/colombian_soldiers_ecological_mission_wetlands/) Posted 6 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I think I did hear Manuel say this, but I didn't really share it here, sorry. The way they trap water really is amazing. When you look really close at the leafs of these plants, they hardly look like leafs, more like hairs:
  
  Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Amazing! This plant will need some FB attention at some point. It's so cool! Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Nice, looking forward to the post :) Posted 6 years ago