Andean Flora

There are a lot of interesting plants in the Andes.

"Air plants" were frequently growing on power lines.

Bromeliads cling to sheer cliffs at Machu Picchu.

A closer look at the cliff bromeliads.

Another cliff of bromeliads near the Sun Gate.

Bromeliads and lichens in a tree at Machu Picchu.

A closer look at the bromeliad nestled in the lichens.

From a distance this looked like a heliconia growing in a tree, but it's really a bromeliad. The terraces of Machu Picchu can be seen in the background.

Orchid along the Sun Gate trail.

Same species, different flower.

A second orchid species in the same area.

Originally I thought these were flowers, but they are hairs marking the nodes in a local species of bamboo.

A large composite that reminds me of Joe Pye Weed in North America.

Another flower along the Sun Gate trail.

If I can further identify any of these flowers, I'll update this blog post.