Argentina & Chile -- November 2008 -- Day 12-- JuJuy to Cachi --350km

[David_L]

This looks like I imagine the forest of Fangorn in 'Lord of the Rings'.


[attachment 20056 epiphytes2.jpg]

[David_L]

The epiphytic cactus is Rhipsalis baccifera according to Willy. AS Mike notes it has truly impressive flowers! Yes that little white star is the flower.


[attachment 20057 Rhipsalis_baccifera3.jpg]

[David_L]

Here is Jacques risking life and limb for a close up.


[attachment 20058 Rhipsalis_baccifera.jpg]

[Mike P]

Over excited as we all were at the splendour that was the Rhipsalis there was better to come.....we got back on the bus and drove a little further up the valley to where the air was drier and the epiphites no longer clothed all the trees.
We stopped at the base of a cliff at a spot where Titio had previously found Rebutia senelis.
This is a shot of the top of the cliff sporting a nice group of Trichocereus pasacana. As you can see it was pretty sheer and composed of a loose rock.
[attachment 20493 ee1.jpg]

[Mike P]

We walked up and down the base of the cliff whilst Tito pointed out plants which were mostly just out of reach.
Undeterred I joined in a scramble up the hillside and was rewarded with this view.

[attachment 20494 eee1.jpg]
And there they were growing amidst the mosses, lichens and Tillandsias - and in flower. Again I thought to myself what are the chances that we arrive on one of the few days in the year when these tiny plants decided to open one or two of their flowers.

[Mike P]

And some more.
[attachment 20495 eeee1.jpg]

[Mike P]

And a close up of a group of the Tillandsia. Not sure of this species but there were four or five different types growing on this cliff.
[attachment 20496 eeeee1.jpg]

[Mike P]

And growing amongst them was Opuntia schickendantzi in all its glory. Not really a fan of this one but I did bring back a seed pod.
[attachment 20497 eeeeee1.jpg]

[David_L]

This is what the Rebutia senilis habitat looked like. A sheer rock face, quite wet, and the Rebutias had wedged themselves into crevices in this.
[attachment 21013 rebutia_hunting.jpg]

[David_L]

After a bit of searching I managed to find a photogenic plant of Rebutia senilis with a nice flower on it that wasn't too far up the rock face. A real classic crevice plant.
[attachment 21014 rebutia_senilis2.jpg]