Orchids are among the oldest plants in the world.
Orchids have been around for almost 65 million years. Orchids are highly prized by enthusiasts because of their particularly elegant flowers, their scent and their fascinating life cycles. Ecuador is a very special place because it has one of the highest numbers of orchid species in the world.
More specifically, Ecuador is considered one of the countries with the highest density of biodiversity in the world. In other words, the number of animal and plant species per square kilometre is very high. On a botanical tour of Ecuador, you can travel short distances but discover a wealth of species.
Ecuador is ranked as the 5th richest country in the world.
More than 17,000 plant species have been listed and/or described here, including 4,235 orchid species to date. Four of the world’s five orchid sub-families are found in Ecuador. What’s more, there are probably many more orchids still awaiting official recognition. Some say there are over 1,000 new species yet to be described! Add to this the fact that around 35% of Ecuador’s orchid species are endemic to the region, and you’ll understand that Ecuador is also a country for Orquidophiles. And if you’re still not convinced, Ecuador is also home to the world’s smallest species of orchid. It belongs to the genus Stelis and measures around 2 mm! At the other end of the scale is the Phragmipedium wallisii orchid, whose flowers have petals up to a metre long, and which you can also see on a botanical tour of Ecuador.
As 2017 draws to a close, Ecuador will have the privilege of hosting the 22nd World Orchid Conference (WOC 22), which will take place from 8 to 12 November in Guayaquil.
The World Orchid Conference Trust is one of the largest exhibitions held in the world on this theme. This year, the Guayaquil Convention Centre will be transformed into an orchid wonderland. It will, of course, be an incredible opportunity to see a wide variety of orchids from all over the world. The theme proposed by the organisers for this year’s event is ‘Ecuador: the kingdom of orchids’.
The conference will cover a wide range of topics relating to these plants, from cultivation and reproduction to diversity and presentations on certain emblematic species such as vanilla. And to broaden our horizons a little, subjects such as sustainable resource management, conservation and ethnobotany will also be covered. As you can see, this will be a not-to-be-missed event for all orquid lovers!
Of course, these 8 days of conferences may seem a little short to the most passionate.
But discovering wild specimens in the wild is undoubtedly the ideal complement to an unforgettable botanical holiday in Ecuador. Numerous reserves in the country allow these observations. In private collections or orquidariums, but also directly in the Ecuadorian forests in the company of our specialist guides. It’s magical to discover a small epiphyte ready to flower nestling in the damp moss! And then the discoveries are endless, with an equally wide variety of Fushias, Bromeliads and other botanical treasures. So don’t hesitate to contact us for all your botanical travel needs.
