Day Seven of our safari: 19 June 2015

On this day we began the end of the first phase of our trip by turning back toward Quito. But, first we had to look for a Tillandsia (previously Vriesea) with a hanging pink inflorescence and green flowers. I remembered more or less the place where I collected it for the first time many years ago, so we stopped at a remnant of forest between Loja and Ona.

In the areas where the Andean forest trees are conserved, Gregbrownia fulgens, with its tall red inflorescence with pendant yellow flowers stood out despite the rain. The flowers were visited by small hummingbirds in search of nectar. Gregbrownia fulgens is very important as a food source for the hummingbirds that inhabit the Andean forest. As the agricultural frontier advances the forests are lost and the habitat and food for many species of birds is lost.

In the undergrowth we saw populations of Guzmania gloriosa, with green bracts with red apices. At the base of the bracts there were yellow flowers. Also present was Greigia mulfordii with inflorescences at the base of the long and spiny leaves. The flowers we saw were of a dark coloration because the flowering had finished, but at anthesis the petals are white.

Definitely the richest selection of bromeliad species was in the middle and upper canopy of the trees, where we found Tillandsia humboldtii with a yellow inflorescence with reddish apices (this tonality is typical when the fruiting process begins, but during flowering the inflorescence is bright red). The most abundant species in the area were Tillandsia polyantha (Fig. 20) and Racinaea euryelytra.

Finally we were able to find the Tillandsia (Vriesea) with inflorescence that we had looked for, but unfortunately no open flowers. No doubt this is a new species, and is under further study.

A little before reaching Saraguro, we detoured towards the communications antennas, as they are always at the highest point and in places with disturbed forests. Some years ago we were in this same place with Hiro and Eric, and because it was so beautiful we decided to explore the area again.

The first surprise came when Jerry exclaimed "STOP" and showed us a wonderful example of Racinaea tetrantha var. scarlatina with a pendant inflorescence of extraordinary beauty. The axis of the inflorescence and flowers were yellow, and the primary bracts, rachis and flower bracts were red. This population has the best coloration that I have seen in Ecuador. I remember many years ago (1997) that we were in this area with Jerry Raack, Elizabeth Patterson, Ed Doherty and Monica de Navarro and saw a specimen of Racinaea tetrantha var. scarlatina which was completely yellow, a truly beautiful plant.

In this area along the road cuts of the small road, we also saw Tillandsia polyantha, which is a very common species in the area. But the best find was near the top, where the Andean forest transitions to the low moor, where we discovered...