Wild orchid in Northern Peru--ID help?
 

Hi guys--

Back in December I went to Peru and saw tons of orchid species in the wild. But this micro orchid really caught my attention. It was completely covering many rock formations at Cumbe Mayo, near Cajamarca in a cloud forest area at about 8 or 9,000 ft and it appeared to have just finished flowering. I did manage to get one fuzzy picture of a small light yellow bloom.

I'm thinking maybe it is a pleurothallis but would love any input if anyone knows what it is! The leaves seemed very thick, almost succulent-like. Not sure that that shows up well in the photos.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1688/...ef78a50fa5.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1695/...766729ef36.jpg


Here it is growing up a rock face:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1567/...e22f261d10.jpg

Oh, hah, I got tricked. At first I didn't realize that there are actually two different orchids in the first photo... an Epidendrum? species with the whitish flowers and a Pleurothallid? species which appears to have very tiny flowers.

Oh maybe I've been tricked too! I thought I was only looking at one. Thanks for pointing that out. You think the larger yellow flower is an epidendrum? They were about two inches in height off the side of the rock--didn't realize there could be such a tiny epidendrum.

Would love to figure out what the pleurothallid is--but it's probably obscure as I think it was a very particular microclimate there...

No idea but very cool.

Epiphyte just brought to my attention that I could post a link to a larger version of the first picture:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142193...86074/sizes/h/

Not sure about the Pleuro type but maybe the other orchid is Epidendrum suaveolens? Here's a habitat shot of it.

Hmm...that does look close, though I wonder if suaveolens is a little bigger than the one in my photo. The one in my photo is on a stalk that's probably 1-2inches in height and the leaves probably had a similar span. Not sure how much variation in size can occur, however the area is exposed to very high winds so perhaps it's a bit stunted.

FYI: This is wikipedia page for the location. It is at about 11,500ft. (I had just arrived from sea level and probably thought the image was in focus LOL)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbe_Mayo

I have tiny epidendrums, a porporax and a polybulbon. Anyway, saying those little one bladed plants look like masdevalias or draculas maybe.

Omg, huge! Its amazing how hardy theses plants can be in the wild.