WenboChen Photography

Melastomataceae is a large family with more than 6000 species, and South America has more than half of that. It's difficult to tell which is which without a thorough study; I can only guess that this is a Microlicia sp. If you know it, don't hesitate to tell me...

Nepenthes longiptera is a pitcher plant endemic to the province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Formally described in 2021, it stands out from other Sumatran pitcher plants because its upper pitchers keep well-developed wings instead of reducing them to simple ribs.

Stork-billed Kingfisher ( Pelargopsis capensis ), Sumatra, Indonesia.

To me, this is the most interesting carnivorous plant on Mount Roraima, the Genlisea sp. This aquatic plant is rootless; instead, it uses modified subterranean leaves to anchor itself, and these special leaves also absorb nutrients like roots. The most amazing part is that these leaves are actually traps that specialise in catching microfauna, such as protozoans and ciliates. Because the modified underground leaves are twisted, their common name in English is 'Corkscrew Plants'. There are at least 3 Genlisea species on Mount Roraima, and no flowering plant was spotted; I have no clue which one this is.

Octomeria connellii, another lithophytic orchid that inhabits the sandstone on Mount Roraima. Octomeria refers to its 8 pollinia. 康氏八团兰

Pterozonium sp.  石蹄蕨属， a cute small fern grows on sandstone, looks like mini golf clubs.

Nepenthes ovata in its natural habitat in North Sumatra.

Gaultheria setulosa, a miniature Ericaceae shrub, grows on rocks where there is almost no actual soil. Cute and tough at the same time! 粗毛白珠 (Mt. Roraima, Venezuela)

I think this is a Pleurothallis sp., but I can't figure out which one. Can anyone help? （Mount Roraima, Venezuela）

Drosera hirticalyx is a rare sundew on Mount Roraima compared to D. roraimae. I only found a few small populations throughout the trip (D. roraimae is literally everywhere). You can clearly see the difference between these two species in the last photo, which shows they grow side by side naturally. 毛萼茅膏菜 #floraofvenezuela #carnivorousplant #mountroraima #drosera #sundew

This is the largest fern I saw on Mt. Roraima; it is clearly a Cyathea species, but I am not sure which one it is. My guess is Cyathea akawaiorum; correct me if I am wrong.

I thought it was a cucumber vine until it produced these alien looking fruits. Cucumis metuliferus, the African horned melon, originally from sub-Saharan Africa, apparently has naturalised in Australia.

Ledothamnus is a small genus in the heath family of Ericaceae and this (L. guianensis) is the type species. Compared to other heath plants which produce dense clusters of tiny bell flowers, this species features massive, open-faced single blooms.

The white-winged swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) is a small, agile bird native to the tropical lowlands of South America, easily identified by its striking glossy blue-green back and large, white wing patches. It is largely non-migratory.

The high mountains of South America are home to many Ericaceae species, especially the epiphytic type, e.g. this lovely Satyria warszewiczii, which grows in the cloud forest of the Guyana Shield tepuies. It's a facultative epiphyte, though, meaning it can be both epiphytic and terrestrial.

What a pretty bell flower! The Canary Island bellflower (Canarina canariensis) is a soft vine endemic to the Canary Islands that blooms in winter and stays dormant in summer. Can be propagated by seeds or tuber division, but does not tolerate temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.

Palicourea rigida, a robust shrub in the coffee family with leathery leaves and bright yellow flowers occurs in the savanna of South America. It's toxic to mammals but used as a traditional folk medicine.