Barnadesia arborea

This barnadesia arborea was growing close to the dirt road leading deeper into Cayambe Coca and was growing on private grounds where cows were grazing.

Fortunately cows do not find this plant edible – not even the flowers. It could be due to the long spines or simply because it’s just not suited for food. Despite this, it is due to expanding farming fields that this wonderful plant is being pushed back to an existence on the fringes. Here it was left as it was growing between boulders where the cows would either get stuck or not reach the grass. So pure luck left this one alone.

Altitude 3450 metres.

Native range is Ecuador and Peru.