We felt like we were traveling along for ‘Roadside Bolivia’ …

Thank you Carl Carter!

We joined Carl on a trip driving an SUV 6000 miles (10000 km), sometimes on paved roads, through the highlands and lowlands of Bolivia. On the way we saw insects, birds, orchids, palms, philodendrons, ferns and even roadside cacti. However, this was not just an amble through the Andes. Tillandsias and puyas such as this (below) were the main focus of this presentation, of which Bolivia possessed many, some at the highest altitudes they can grow. He’s been there twice and explains why he wants to return.

Puya tunarensis

Originally from San Diego, Carl has lived in the Bay Area for nearly forty years. Formally he’s a trained chemist, but as technology has revolutionized that field he has become recognized as an electrical engineer. In the world of plants he is fascinated by epiphytes, but among bromeliads, the fascination is for puyas and alcantareas. He is a past President of the Bromeliad Society of San Francisco and President of the Orchid Society of California.

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