High and Cold in Peru.

[gonewild]

Sitting here freezing in Puerto Maldonado's first friaje of the season reminded me about the pictures I keep meaning to share. Last August we found this beautiful orchid species growing in the highlands way up where the alpaca live. 4285 meters altitude and 4c degrees temperature! I can't find references of orchids growing above 4000m, obviously they do! Anyone have info about elevation and orchids? Wind was blowing, it was freezing cold, I was hanging on to the side of a cliff and our Aussie client we were guiding was in the car passed out from the altitude.... I'm going back with warm clothes and time to look around.

Who can identify this species?

 

[NYEric]

Ask Mr. Zalenko.

 

[Dido]

I like it anyway.
Could be interesting to grow here

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Beauty Lance. My proposals (1st photo):

Left - Odontoglossum mystacinum (web reference - http://atrium.andesamazon.org/images_list.php?type=&id=2931&scrollTop=0)
Right - Homo sapiens (reference - gut instinct)

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Amend that name to Cyrtochilum aureum - tough keeping up with name changes. According to IOSPE it is found up to 4700 meters, and that's high!

 

[Rick]

Very cool Lance!!

 

[gonewild]

Beauty Lance. My proposals (1st photo):

Left - Odontoglossum mystacinum (web reference - http://atrium.andesamazon.org/images_list.php?type=&id=2931&scrollTop=0)

I'll check out the link and see if it looks the same.

Right - Homo sapiens (reference - gut instinct)

This one is incorrect, I know for a fact.

 

[SlipperFan]

Lovely orchid, whatever the name, and good-looking homo sapiens.