Ananuca de cordillera ?

[Asle Hjellbrekke]

Hi
I am a Norwegian photographer with a lot of visits in Chile - this awesome country!
In late november 2004 I visited Pan de Azucar National Park and took this picture (see attachement).
Have been looking at your fantastic flora but the closest I come is to Ananuca de cordillera (Rhodophiala rhodolirion). Is this correct?
I have been in Pan de Azucar every year usually in December or January but have never seen this again - but several others Ananucas.
I see that it should possibly not be in this area, but Las Lomitas where I found it, is something very special because of the fog (extreme locally)
gathering at the top quite frequently.
Rgds Asle Hj.

[julz1972]

What a beautiful plant!

It looks related to Rhodophiala rhodolirion, but that species normally has a single flower and is an alpine plant. R. laeta is also related and grows in the coastal fog area in the north, but has plain pink flowers on a taller stem. Maybe you have discovered a new species!?

We can expect those species of Rhodophiala with undivided stigma lobes (and epigeal seed germination) to be classified in the restored genus Rhodolirium.

[michail]

I agree with julz that this species is very interesting.

The large white stripe in the middle of the tepals is characteristic of Rhodophiala laeta, but the the thin purple stripes in the center of the flower is very reminiscent of Rhodophiala rhodolirion. However, these same stripes can be sometimes present in Rhodophiala ananuca, which is usually almost pure white. Looking at the type of soil (sand), I would say that this habitat is of R. ananuca which loves sand. My guess would be that it may be a hybrid between a R. ananuca and R. laeta. To confirm that one would have to know whether there are more plants of that time or whether this is a unique specimen. In the red book of flora of III Region (http://www.biouls.cl/lrojo/lrojo03/publ ... bro/06.pdf), where the Pan de Azucar is located, there are no alternative species which could considered.

In nature for Rhodophialas from north I have observed large variation of color, and even in very homogenous populations of R. bagnoldii (pure yellow color), about 0.1% are orange.

So, whether this plant is a hybrid, a genetic variation, or even a new species is very difficult to determine... But one thing remains certain, that is one of the most beautiful Chilean plants!

[Asle Hjellbrekke]

Thank you guys for your kind answers!

I am sorry though, but I am in a lower division than you when it comes to knowledge of plants and especially of Chilean ones . I photograph nature for the beauty of things.

I have been looking through my 'digital negatives' and here is what I find: At least three years - the years I have been visiting Pan de Azucar in November/December
I have got quite a lot of shots of the flower in question (different specimen) in location as far apart as a 1000 meters. In at least one of these locations there were
very similar looking but not identical flowers. Attach two photos - another one of the one in question but not hte same as in my first post - and a similar looking but not identical.

And I could not agree more - the flower is striking beautiful - as is Pan de Azucar as well!

[michail]

Hi Asle Hjellbrekke,

I think these are Rhodophiala laeta plants. The first photo you have posted is probably some genetic variation, but now I am pretty confident that there is nothing "special" about that plant in the first photo... Except that it still is very beautiful!

[Asle Hjellbrekke]

Hi Michail!

Thanks a lot!
Now I can send these photos to my stock agency and rest in peace about the Subject information