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Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. XI OCTOBER, 1923 No. 8 
AN EXPEDITION FOR ORCHIDS TO CENTRAL 
AND SOUTH AMERICA. 
(Continued from September Bulletin.) 
‘‘Inasmuch as arrangements were now completed with reli- 
able native collectors, I turned my attention to the business 
of collecting in the Andes around Bogota. In this region at 
an altitude of 9,000 feet, only terrestrial orchids are found. 
Some interesting genera, such as Pleurothallus, Stellis, and 
Odontoglossum, were very prevalent. The latter genus is 
notable for its yellow-flowered species, flavescens, which is 
often mistaken for Oncidium when first seen. This species 
evidently will soon become extinct, since the natives collect 
the plants, strip off the leaves, and carry the pseudo-bulbs 
down to the market place where they are sold for food. We 
first discovered this species through the remains of the 
leaves which had been torn off and left on the trail. Another 
interesting orchid which is familiar in our collection ig Epi- 
dendrum. The majority of the species are of epiphytic habit, 
but those in this region are terrestrial. They may be found 
growing either along the hedge-row in company with various 
other tall-growing plants, or in dense shade. The most com- 
mon species noted is the pink-flowered Epidendrum elongatum. 
‘‘Apart from the orchids, the flora is very limited in the 
Andes of Bogota, and the majority of plants seen are dwarf 
in size. The native authorities are reforesting the mountains 
in the vicinity of Bogota with the Australian eucalyptus which 
they use for building purposes. There are no other large trees 
at this altitude excepting those in cultivation in private gar- 
dens, such as the Australian species of Acacia and various 
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