Orchid Digest, July, Aug., Sept. 2012 156 O NE DAY LAST JUNE while on vacation in Colombia, we decided to go to a recre- ational hotel about one hour from Bogota. My wife had put her foot down and told me she did not want to see any more orchids. We had made several trips during the previous days and we had seen too many orchids. The problem is that when I see an orchid growing along the roadside or on a tree overhanging the road, I must stop to take a picture. This means slowing down on curving mountain roads while trying to find a safe place to pull over. After several hundred pictures of orchids in flower, she had enough. We were going to a nice hotel next on a beautiful river to have a relaxing time with good drinks and food. Just before reaching the hotel, we had to go through a town called Tobia (74 km from Bogota). Tobia is located in northwestern Cundinamarca on the eastern mountain range of Alpes. Near Tobia there are two rivers, Tobia River and Rionegro River. Tobia is at 730 m.a.s.l. TOBIA, COLOMBIA: EXTREME ORCHID WATCHING RUBEN SAULEDA Tree in the central square of Tobia with Cattleya trianaei, a Schomburgkia species, and Oncidium carthagenense. Cattleya trianaei All photos ©Ruben Sauleda
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Orchid Digest, July, Aug., Sept. 2012 156
ONE DAY LAST JUNE while on vacationin Colombia, we decided to go to a recre-ational hotel about one hour from
Bogota. My wife had put her foot down and toldme she did not want to see any more orchids. Wehad made several trips during the previous daysand we had seen too many orchids. The problemis that when I see an orchid growing along theroadside or on a tree overhanging the road, Imust stop to take a picture. This means slowingdown on curving mountain roads while tryingto find a safe place to pull over. After severalhundred pictures of orchids in flower, she hadenough. We were going to a nice hotel next on abeautiful river to have a relaxing time with gooddrinks and food.
Just before reaching the hotel, we had to gothrough a town called Tobia (74 km fromBogota). Tobia is located in northwesternCundinamarca on the eastern mountain range ofAlpes. Near Tobia there are two rivers, TobiaRiver and Rionegro River. Tobia is at 730 m.a.s.l.
TOBIA, COLOMBIA:
EXTREMEORCHID WATCHINGRUBEN SAULEDA
Tree in the central square of Tobia with Cattleya trianaei, a Schomburgkia species, and Oncidium carthagenense.
Cattleya trianaei
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A plant of C. trianaei about 4 feet across growing on a bougainvillea.
A very large C. trianaei with narrow petals but a spectacular lip in bloom in a tree in the town square.
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Orchid Digest, July, Aug., Sept. 2012 158
with an average temperature is 27°C (81°F). The townbegan as a camp where the workers that were build-ing the railroad (Ferrocarrique) from Bogota to SantaMarta, rested after finishing their workday. TobiasVasquez made the first trail from Vergara to Tobia inorder to sell his coffee. Tobia was named to honorTobias Vasquez. Tobia was baptized on June 29th1939. The town is a typical picturesque Colombiantown with a large central square
When we came to a stop sign at the town square,we stopped and I was immediately in trouble. Ijumped out of the car at the risk of being left behind.On the corner behind the stop sign was a large deadtree with a very fine Cattleya trianaei. Right next to itwas another plant of good quality also. As I wentaround the tree there was a very large Schomburgkiaspecies and a huge Oncidium carthagenense. Just downthe street was a large bougainvillea with a C. trianaeiabout 4 feet across, but not in flower, growing on it.As I was taking pictures, I noticed my wife and herson were driving away. Fortunately, they stopped atthe town square and decided to wait for me.
My picture taking attracted the attention of a gen-tleman who asked me if I had looked at the trees inthe town square. Just above where my family hadparked there were several big trees covered with C.
A pink form of C. trianaei.
A pink form of C. trianaei.
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trianaei in flower. The plant on a dead tree behind the stop sign was
the large, full form of C. trianaei that we most common-ly see. The flowers were large with a great shape. Thetrees in the town square had a mix of two other formsof C. trianaei. The most common form on the trees wasthe one that is very large with narrow petals but withspectacular lips. It almost appears to have some influ-ence from Cattleya eldorado. The other form was thebeautiful pink form that comes close to Cattleyaschroderae. These pink forms have nice shapes withpink lips and a yellow center.
The only form missing in the square is the one calledSangre de Toro. This is a smaller flower with goodshape and dark color. Interestingly, each of these differ-ent forms, when self-pollinated, results in plants of thesame form. These appear to be genetically stable dis-tinct forms and possibly could be considered separatespecies in the future.
As we walked around the town square it becameevident that there were dozens of these large plantsgrowing in the trees. The trees were very old and the C.trianaei appeared to have been growing there for a verylong time. Everyone told us that they always remem-bered these plants being there. There were severalplants growing just about a foot off the ground on largeBougainvillea.
On one side of the square was an alba form of C.trainaei that surrounded a tree trunk for over ten feet.Some smaller trees had smaller specimens just a fewfeet from the ground. The town people seemed to knowwhat a treasure they have and do not allow anyone todisturb the plants.
Almost all of the C. trianaei plants had flowers. Theyappear to flower whenever they mature a new growth.The large plants like the ones in the square have someflowers all year. I must admit that my wife was verypatient while I spent almost an hour photographingthese amazing plants.
C. trianaei on another bougainvillea.
C. trianaei on another bougainvillea.
C. trianaei on another bougainvillea.
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Orchid Digest, July, Aug., Sept. 2012 160
A few minutes later we arrived at our hotel, HotelCampestre El Gaitano. There were C. trianaei alongwith catasetums, oncidiums and many other species oforchids everywhere we looked. We observed over 30species of orchids just in the area surrounding thehotel. I had been led to believe that the hotel was asmall rustic hotel, but it was a spectacular place, with amodern look, fantastic food and great service.
Besides having several very nice hotels, Tobia has anatural landscape perfect for adventure sports such asrafting, rappelling and a 1200 m (4000 feet) canopy line.Rafting is popular because it has rivers classified fromcategory I to VI. There are several canopy lines cover-ing from 200 to 1200 m (700-4000 feet). The 1200 m lineis the longest in South America; it reaches 600 m (2000feet) above sea level at its highest point. Rappelling isalso very popular in the area. The Barandillas Waterfallis 75 meters (250 feet) high and you can go up or downit observing the orchids in either direction.
If you are into extreme orchid watching or extremesports, Tobia is the place to go.✾
About the AuthorRuben P. Sauleda, Ph.D. has been growing orchids
since the age of 12. He started the family business in1962, Ruben In Orchids. His main interest is hybridiz-ing the unusual, specializing in Encyclia andSchomburgkia hybrids. In addition he propagates many
C.trianaei alba
C.trianaei alba
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species from seed, especially Florida Natives. Dr.Sauleda has a Masters Degree in Orchid Ecology
and Taxonomy from Florida Atlantic University and aPh.D. in Orchid Taxonomy from the University ofSouth Florida. He has written several books and haspublished dozens of papers in scientific journals. Hewas Chairman of Education for the 19th World OrchidConference as well as a speaker.
Ruben P. Sauleda, Ph.D.E-mail:[email protected]
C. trianaei specimen plant.
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