If you asked me to pick a favorite flower, I might have a hard time choosing. However, orchids (or las orquídeas) are certainly close to the top of my list, and they’re also one of the most important plants here! Ecuador is often called the orchid capital of the world. The country has over 4,200 identified species of orchids, and more are being discovered every year. Ecuador is incredibly diverse when it comes to plants and animals, but orchids dominate. If fact, three out of every ten plants native to Ecuador are orchids!
Since there are so many different types of orchids, there’s a lot of variation in appearance. They’re always colorful though, often with several bright colors patterning each petal. Each flower only has a few petals, but they stand out. Some of my favorite varieties have petals that look like ruffles you’d find on a pirate’s shirt. Their stems are thin and lead down to tangled roots that plant themselves in the ground or cling to trees.
When I was growing up my mom always had orchids in pots around the house, so I think of her whenever I see them somewhere else. It was nice to be able to see something I’ve grown up with in its true habitat. Orchids also always make me feel happy, because they don't always look real. To me they often look like funky art projects or creatures from another planet!
