The Frailejones are a group of rosette plants, shrubs or single-stemmed trees in the Asteraceae (daisy family) and belong to the genus Espeletia. Gentry (1996) notes that the 80 species are sometimes split into a number of related genera. The name Frailejón comes from the imagined monk-like appearance of these plants. If seen from a distance in the misty environment where they are found, they may seem like cloaked hooded men. They often grow in extensive patches and dominate whole landscapes.
Most species are described as pachycauls (thick stemmed, with pithy interiors and little woody tissue) with leaves arranged in dense spirals. In the trunked species, old leaves dry out but persist, covering and protecting the stem while new leaves form a bunched rosette at the apex of the trunk. Leaves are thick and succulent, with grey or white woolly hairs and daisy-like flowers, usually yellow. Other species with no trunk have leaves arranged in a large rosette at ground level. Tall sunflower-like stems arise from the centre. The hairy leaves are thought to be an adaptation to protect the plants from the cold.
Distribution and Habitat
Frailejones are confined to the high altitude grasslands, or páramos, of the northern Andes of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. Highly diverse for ecosystems growing in such extreme environments, the páramos are meadow-like, made up of tufted grasses, flowering herbs, ferns, cushion plants and patches of sphagnum mosses. The spiny bromeliad locally called the Achupalla, a favorite food of the Andean Spectacled Bear, also stands tall above the grasses. Rain and mist keep the grassland wet year round.
Where to See Frailejones in Ecuador
Stunning landscapes reward those who take the time to explore the páramos and the neighbouring Guandera and Polylepis cloud forests. El Angel Reserve close to the Colombian border and Guandera Biological Station near Ibarra in the northern highlands are relatively easy to visit, though transport will require some forward planning. Careful acclimatization is essential before ascending to high altitude and bring warm and waterproof clothing.
Conservation
The páramo habitats are threatened by grazing, fire (may be too frequent) and clearing for cultivation. Climate change, including raised temperatures and altered rainfall patterns, is predicted to reduce the total area of páramo. Mauricio Diazgranados believes that the geographical ranges of some species will be altered and several species are likely to become extinct.
Reference
Gentry, A.H., 1996. A Field Guide to the Families and Genera of Woody Plants of Northwest South America. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Barbara Stewart - I am an Australian ecologist based near Byron Bay on the east coast of the continent. My interests revolve around trees, forests and ...
