Phrag pearcei in the wild

[gonewild]

I really liked this spot! We actually were in this valley looking for new fish and dart frogs but this rock in
Northern Peru was an exciting find! It really put on a display showing how Phrag pearcei grows
associated with water. Enjoy the pictures!

The roots grow right on the rock with a little covering of sediment and organic matter.

This group was on a different rock along the shore.
The pearcei always seems to have the grass growing next to it?

In case you are wondering about the fish, my friend Pasqual
managed to find a strange Pleco under a rock.

 

[fbrem]

all too cool for words, that is some incredible stuff, thanks for sharing

Forrest

 

[goldenrose]

What a perfect setting! :clap::clap: :drool::drool:

 

[NYEric]

did he catch it by hand!? Thanx for sharing, maybe i could get some of that grass to help my pearcei hybrids!!!

 

[gonewild]

Yes he caught it by hand.
Maybe the grass would help pearcei grow better in a pot?
I can take you there! oke:

 

[eOrchids]

Awesome pics, Lance!

 

[Yoyo_Jo]

Very cool to see these in their native setting. Maybe the grass roots give the pearei roots something to anchor on to.

 

[Drorchid]

Pretty cool to see them in the wild like that, so I guess you can call them Lithophytes.

Robert

 

[gonewild]

Yes I guess they pretty much are Lithophytes. The roots hold onto the rocks without help from the grass. But the grass would likely provide organic matter for the roots. And maybe the shade from the grass helps new pearcei seedlings to get established?

 

[Rob Zuiderwijk]

Lance,

Great photos. I think you're lucky to be able to see them in their native habitat. I never have and probably won't anytime soon.
Thanks for sharing.

All the best,

Rob Z.

 

[musiclovertony]

that's so neat! Thanks for posting these

 

[Shiva]

Great pictures Lance, thanks!

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Simply awesome!

 

[SlipperKing]

The root system is awsome. Can you tell Lance what the rock substrate of made of? Calcium?

 

[Dupuy]

these is beautiful! keep look for huge Sobralia!

 

[SlipperFan]

What is the sediment? Sandy or more clay-like?

 

[smartie2000]

:clap: wow!

 

[gonewild]

The root system is awsome. Can you tell Lance what the rock substrate of made of? Calcium?

You know I should have paid for attention to the rock!
From what I remember it was probably sandstone or granite. I don't think limestone. The water in the stream had a pH of 7. I will ask my contact there what the rocks are.

 

[gonewild]

What is the sediment? Sandy or more clay-like?

Silt,very fine with organic content. But there really was very little. The roots attach right to the rock surface.

These plants would be under water at times so sediments would be minimal. As you can see the shrub growing on top of the rock is water swept. The Phrags only grew on the downstream (protected) side of the boulder.

 

[kentuckiense]

I love threads like this. I get to see the plants in the wild AND get valuable insight as to how to grow these things.