Orchid Diversity at Santa Lucía: Seven Years of Monthly Monitoring
With the onset of the rainy season in late September, the orchid garden at Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve has become increasingly colorful. During our monthly monitoring session in October, we recorded 16 orchid species in bloom, highlighting the remarkable diversity of orchids that can be found in this small area of cloud forest.
Among the month's highlights was Lycomormium ecuadorense, a spectacular orchid distinguished by its striking appearance and intense fragrance. We also recorded four species of Maxillaria and four species of Pleurothallis, two genera that contribute significantly to the diversity of orchids observed in the garden. To our surprise, we also encountered an Epidendrum species that has not yet been identified.
Our monthly monitoring programme has been running for seven years, allowing us to document flowering patterns and observe the diversity of orchids in the garden over time. Although the garden covers only approximately 300 square metres, we have recorded more than 90 orchid species there over the years. This makes it a valuable site for observing orchid diversity on a relatively small scale and offers opportunities to learn more about the richness of cloud forest flora.
We welcome researchers, botanists, orchid enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in the diversity of tropical cloud forests to visit the Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve. Whether you are interested in scientific research or simply curious about the extraordinary variety of orchids found in these forests, we would be delighted to share our experience and observations with you.
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