Frailejones are important symbols of the Andean páramos, an ecosystem seen in Colombia’s mountain regions. While extremely important to the ecological environment in the Andes, frailejones are especially important today as we see the impact of climate change on water. Learning about frailejones made me realize how awesome nature is, always evolving to support itself one way or another.
The frailejon is a plant native to Colombia similar to a succulent or perennial. The plant has green, thick-ish leaves that extend outwards. Typically, the plant is pretty close to the ground but it can also grow to be really tall. When a frailejon is taller, it looks as if there is a brown trunk supporting the plant.
When I first saw this plant, I was on a hike with some friends and had just arrived in Colombia. As someone who grew up in the Midwest, I didn’t go on hikes at all. So, I decided to take full advantage of the mountains around me. Although I was taking in all of nature during this hike, the frailejones immediately stuck out to me. When you are on a hike, it can often feel like you are just looking at a field of shrubs. But, the frailejones quickly stick out as a common plant.
