Peru’s Andean flora at 4,800 meters in the Cordillera Occidental

The Peruvian Andes has very distinct biozones that vary by elevation in the Andes. Peru encompasses the hyper-arid Sechura Desert along the coast, a variety of Andean biozones separated by elevation and relative position with respect to the two cordilleras, and the Amazon jungle. In addition, the relatively low latitudes comes into play, particularly with Peru having the largest accumulation of glaciers lying close to the equator. All of the Andean flora have in common plant evolution to the mountain building that developed the Andes. Taking both continent interior tropical forest and coastal fauna originally developed at low-elevations and having them evolve to adapt to ever increasing elevation results in very specific plant communities. The highlands of Peru have both grasses and flowers plus a wide variety of succulents adapted to the extreme elevation. The best example, and widely used food product that developed along with the Andes, is the potato.

The Cordillera Occidental is the dryer of the two mountain chains that extend the length of Peru. South America’s continental divide runs along the crest of the Cordillera Occidental, generally averaging at an elevation of 4,400 to 5,200 meters above sea level. Above 5,000 meters the variety of plant species decreases to mainly lichen and the ubiquitous Andean grass called Ichu. From 4,800 to 4,900 meters elevation Peru has “tundra like” communities, particularly formed in the valleys around meadows formed in mostly sediment-filled lake basins. The more abundant plant varieties are shown in this post, covering Ichu, Yareta, cacti, several flowers, and succulents. All of the below pictures and plant varieties were found in the same alpine setting located south of the pueblo of Moyobamba which lies several hours north of Lima.

Ichu

Ichu (Stipa ichu) is a grass variety that grows in radiating clumps. Fields of Ichu can approach height of one’s arm pits in more robust fields. The plant is green in the wet season, and it dries out to brown fields during the winter period. In the northern hemisphere it may be referred to as “Peruvian feather grass”, although we have never heard that term while in traveling in South America. It is perhaps the most common plant of the Altiplano. It is grazed upon by alpacas, llamas, vicunas, and guanaco. The strong or stiff grass stalks is also used by indigenous people to weaving coarse ropes.

Yareta

Yareta (Azorella compacta) makes large hummocky masses of spongy material that tends to form on arid slopes outside of the areas of wetlands. They can form thick masses that degrade to form a type of Andean peat moss. The Yareta is a slow growing very long-lived plant. It is auto-polinizing, having both male and female components; the flowers are very small light pink to lavender in color. The plant can grow 1-2 cm per year, and can live up to 3,000 years. Dried out bricks of Yareta is locally used by indigenous people for fueling their cooking fires.

Cactus

The Peruvian Andes hairy cactus, or Tephrocactus floccosus, forms in pillow clumps that are deceptively soft appearing while hiding unforgiving long cactus needles. This example was at 4,900 meters elevation.

Lichen

Lichen is found worldwide growing on rocky surfaces- we did not discover the variety name of the lichen in the Cordillera Occidental alpine settings. Lichen are symbiotic relationship between fungi and bacteria, or some cases algae, and are not plants.

Tsampa- a tundra like succulent

Tsampa (Platago rigida) is a carpeting, very hard and somewhat prickly plant that defines distinct rosettes with hard waxy succulent related leaves. It can developed into low-profile bulbous mounds somewhat similar to the Yareta, but this plant is nowhere near as spongy and the rosettes grow to several centimeters in diameter. This species can be found at alpine elevations from Ecuador to Bolivia. It is a flowering plant, making very small white flowers.

Cushion plants- tundra formed in wetlands

Mat bodies formed in wetlands are also called “cushion plants” for their spongy nature. They consist of Distichia muscoides. You will find muddy pits or ponds of standing water bordered by cushion plants. These expansive valley-lining wetlands in Spanish are called bofidels.

Stalk-leaf like succulents

Senecio canescens, common name not determined, develop leaves that are made of spongy material that are covered in fine fibres. Flower stalks can have golden heads.

Werner nubigena

Flowering plants at 4,800 meters are all low-lying, small, with the actual flowers nestled down among the leaves to protect them for the frigid strong wind. Its common name varies but can include Condor cebolla and Andean daisy.

Within this relativity small area we have listed 8 species- the survey was quick and many others are likely present. We are probably missing at least two types of flowers that perhaps were not blooming during this September visit. The ones highlighted here are however fairly representative of what can be found in the Andean highlands. Descend a couple hundred meters and the variety count will quickly increase. The alpine flora of the Peruvian Andes replicates in many ways arctic tundra communities from the high elevations inducing a cold climate. The variant in Peru is having equatorial species adapting to fill this biological niche, making for a truly unique ecosystem.

 

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South America seems to refuse to show its inexhaustible creative force.