Argentina &Chile --- Nov 2008 -- Day14 -- Cafayate to Salta --- 185 km

[Mike P]

A close up of the developing flower buds.
[attachment 22299 eeeeeeeeeeeee1.jpg]

[Mike P]

There were many bromeliads coating the trees in this location. Tillandsia Sp. is the closest I can get for this one.
[attachment 22300 eeeeeeeeeeeeeee1.jpg]

[Mike P]

Lurking amongst the very unforgiving shrubbery there were one or two plants of Cleistocactus smaragdiflorus.
[attachment 22301 eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee1.jpg]
With another of the Gymnos. in the background. At this site the Gymnos. seemed to favour the half shade and leaf litter of the shrubby trees.

[Mike P]

The Cleistocactus in context.
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[Mike P]

And a veritable forest of Bromeliads on a tree.
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[Mike P]

Another of the Mystery plants - this time a much healthier specimin.
Richard - if it helps the elevation here was around 1200m.
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[David_L]

There was a veritable hanging garden of the more xerophytic epiphytes here. It's difficult to do justice to it with the compression needed to get in under the 100Kb bar.


[attachment 22305 bromeliad_hanging_garden.jpg]

[David_L]

I had been conscious of a positively deafening Cicada while I was photographing the Gymnos. and decided to track it down. Normally a completely fruitless task as these beasts are a great deal easier to hear than see. Finally I found it, and it was a satisfyingly big beast as well.


[attachment 22306 cicada2.jpg]

[David_L]

I guess that plant you can see above the Cicada is a tiny Bromeliad rather than a moss. Here is another view of it.

[attachment 22307 tiny_bromeliad.jpg]

[David_L]

While getting down to the level of the Cicada, I looked beyond it and saw a few plants I hadn't spotted before, but for the Cicada, I would have missed them. Clearly a Parodia, I believe Parodia microsperma.


[attachment 22308 Parodia_microsperma.jpg]