Floreana Island
For many people all over the world, a trip to the Galápagos Islands is a long-awaited dream. This archipelago is one of the ultimate nature travel destinations on Earth. In the many years I have had the privilege to be a naturalist in this paradise I have compiled many anecdotes about visitors to whom this dream finally came true. Some of these anecdotes are so heart-rending for me that I hope to never forget them. Today while walking along the trail on Punta Cormorant I felt the urge to write about a particular one that has had a big impact on me, not only as a naturalist, but as a person. A little more than four years ago, in February 2000 to be exact, while receiving the guests at the airport, a senior lady asked me immediately in a very polite way: “Carlos, will we have the opportunity to see the Lecocarpus on Floreana?” I answered with a mix of amazement and admiration: “Yes! We will see it. Obviously, you know the plant world very well,” I said. She replied, “I work in London in a botanical garden, I have been waiting 42 years to come to the Galápagos and observe this plant.” I told her, “madam, I want to have the privilege to guide you that day. I want to be the person who will point out this plant species to you for the very first time.”
The plant, the endemic winged-fruited Lecocarpus (Lecocarpus pinnatifidus) inhabits the arid lowlands of Floreana Island. It is only found on Floreana – not anywhere else in the Galápagos, nor anywhere else in the world! Lecocarpus is in addition to this interesting fact one of the seven endemic plant genera found on the Galápagos Islands. Genera, plural of genus, constitute a higher classification in the Plant Kingdom, therefore its scientific importance for the Galápagos is immense. This beautiful endemic plant belongs to the same botanical family as daisies and sunflowers. This family is known as the Asteraceae, and all its members have compound star shaped flowers. Lecocarpus grow as a bush to a maximum 6 feet tall and have yellow flowers; according to the renowned book “Flowering Plants of the Galápagos” (Conley K. McMullen, 1999) this plant is considered not yet endangered but vulnerable due to its limited distribution. Can you imagine how fascinated this lady was with the plant sighting? It was unforgettable. I just cannot avoid feeling bumps on my skin every time I talk about the Lecocarpus of Floreana Island.
For many people all over the world, a trip to the Galápagos Islands is a long-awaited dream. This archipelago is one of the ultimate nature travel destinations on Earth. In the many years I have had the privilege to be a naturalist in this paradise I have compiled many anecdotes about visitors to whom this dream finally came true. Some of these anecdotes are so heart-rending for me that I hope to never forget them. Today while walking along the trail on Punta Cormorant I felt the urge to write about a particular one that has had a big impact on me, not only as a naturalist, but as a person. A little more than four years ago, in February 2000 to be exact, while receiving the guests at the airport, a senior lady asked me immediately in a very polite way: “Carlos, will we have the opportunity to see the Lecocarpus on Floreana?” I answered with a mix of amazement and admiration: “Yes! We will see it. Obviously, you know the plant world very well,” I said. She replied, “I work in London in a botanical garden, I have been waiting 42 years to come to the Galápagos and observe this plant.” I told her, “madam, I want to have the privilege to guide you that day. I want to be the person who will point out this plant species to you for the very first time.”
The plant, the endemic winged-fruited Lecocarpus (Lecocarpus pinnatifidus) inhabits the arid lowlands of Floreana Island. It is only found on Floreana – not anywhere else in the Galápagos, nor anywhere else in the world! Lecocarpus is in addition to this interesting fact one of the seven endemic plant genera found on the Galápagos Islands. Genera, plural of genus, constitute a higher classification in the Plant Kingdom, therefore its scientific importance for the Galápagos is immense. This beautiful endemic plant belongs to the same botanical family as daisies and sunflowers. This family is known as the Asteraceae, and all its members have compound star shaped flowers. Lecocarpus grow as a bush to a maximum 6 feet tall and have yellow flowers; according to the renowned book “Flowering Plants of the Galápagos” (Conley K. McMullen, 1999) this plant is considered not yet endangered but vulnerable due to its limited distribution. Can you imagine how fascinated this lady was with the plant sighting? It was unforgettable. I just cannot avoid feeling bumps on my skin every time I talk about the Lecocarpus of Floreana Island.
