500px provided description: From wikipedia: Espeletia, commonly known as frailej?n or fraylej?n, is a genus of perennial subshrubs, in the sunflower family.[2] The genus, which is native mainly to Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, was first formally described in 1808.[3] The genus was named after the viceroy of New Granada, Jos? Manuel de Ezpeleta.

Espeletia grandiflora The plants live at high altitude in p?ramo ecosystems. The trunk is thick, with succulent hairy leaves disposed in a dense spiral pattern. Marcescent leaves help protect the plants from cold. The flowers are usually yellow, similar to daisies.

The frailej?n plant is endangered due to destruction of the p?ramo for agricultural purposes, especially potato crops. This activity continues, despite the Colombian government declaring it illegal.

The Espeletia is well known for contributing to the world in water sustainability by capturing water vapor from passing clouds in its spongy trunk and releasing it through the roots into the soil, thus helping to create vast high-altitude subterranean water deposits and lakes that will eventually form rivers. [#nature ,#plant ,#colombia ,#paramo ,#frailejon ,#cerros orientales ,#espeletia ,#la vieja ,#Bogota ,#calle 72 ,#las moyas]