Ecuador has the World’s greatest orchid diversity with 4000 identified orchid species, 1300 of them being endemic. It was in this transitional area between the Andes and the Ecuadorian Amazon where, half hidden among roots and leaves, the World’s smallest orchid was found. This orchid, of which the name has not been yet defined, measures only 2.1mm wide, beating the platysteke jungermannioides species’ size of 2.5mm, a plant so small that its leaves are almost transparent, allowing seeing through them.
It was almost three months ago, in a high-biodiversity region known as Cerro Candelaria, up in the Pastaza River of the Ecuadorian Amazon; when Dr. Lou Jost, an American botanist specialized in orchids, found by chance the smallest orchid of the platysteke genre, on which he was researching. At that moment, the famous orchid hunter realized that his new discovery was far more interesting than the orchid he was studying.
On an interview with the botanist, he remarked: « "It's an exciting feeling to find a new species. People think everything has been discovered but there's much more ». This discovery adds up to the more than 60 orchids and 10 plants Dr. Jost has found in the last 10 years.
To visit this high-diversity region, you must first get to the Tungurahua province, right between the national parks of Sangay and Llanganates. This area works as a corridor in the middle of the two protected parks, preserving a big portion of virgin forest.
Photo: Lou Jost
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