SRGC Exploration Grant recipient - photo report

[Mike Kintgen]

The SRGC has various funds for grant aid – for example for student study  (Diane Aitchison Fund)  and the EXPLORATION  FUND.


This is a brief photo report of a project undertaken by Mike Kintgen (of the Denver Botanic Garden) and given an exploration grant by the SRGC.

 We (my colleague Dan Johnson and I) undertook the trip to continue a project Denver Botanic Gardens has been working on to study the flora of Patagonia (which is a steppe climate like Denver) and build relationships with botanists, scientists, horticulturists and gardeners in another steppe climate.   It was the third trip I have taken to Patagonia, and it allowed us to visit several areas we had not visited in the other trips.  We have travelled rather extensively in the Patagonia steppe from El Chalten to the northern edge of Patagonia.

We took several weekends and travelled in Patagonia from Jan 12 to Feb 5.


water bottles at shrine to  la Difunta Correa

It was an amazing trip

All the best
Mike


Lago Nahuel Haupi from Cerro Chaluallco

[Mike Kintgen]

Cerro Chauluallco is a lesser known mountain near Bariloche, it is more arid than the more famous Cerro Catedral. 
 Habitats include Nothofagus forest filled with Alstroemeria to alpine screes, meadows and rock fields.


Acaena macrocephala at cerro Chauluallco


Acaena macrocephala at cerro Chauluallco


The white Form of Chaetanthera villosa is found here.   


Mulinum spinosum near Bariloche in the afternoon shade


Nassauvia lagascae v. lanata is also a specialty here on Cerro Chauluallco.

[Mike Kintgen]

Next we traveled to the Meseta Somuncura near Valcheta 500 km east of Bariloche.   It is known for being one of the hottest and cold areas in the steppe.  It is a remote and rarely visited high massive plateau known for several endemic species of animals and plants.


Austrocactus on La Meseta Somuncura


Azorella aff. madreporica on Cerro Somuncura


Stipa humilus on Cerro Somuncura

[Mike Kintgen]

We climbed Cerro Corrona the highest mountain on the Plateau and encountered an alpine like flora found in the Andes almost 500 km to the west.


 Cerro Corona on Meseta Somuncura


Larretia acaulis on Cerro Corona

[Mike Kintgen]

After returning to Bariloche we drove north to Neuquen and Volcan Cophaue
This area is well known by flower enthusiast and features a smoking volcano, Arucaria forest and interesting alpines.
   

Volcan Copahue


Araucaria araucana near Volcan Copahue


Steppe near Copahue


Rhodophiala araucana near Volcan Copahue

[Mike Kintgen]

 Still in the Nequen region


Argylia robusta just north of the Mendoza-Nequen border


Field of Stipa speciosa and Stipa sp.   near Riscos Bayos


Cascada de Rio Agria near Cero Copahue

[Mike Kintgen]

We continued north to Volcan Domuyo and went to the end of the road where we saw the Chaetanthera villosa.  Yellow forms are found here.


Chaetanthera villosa[/i ]  in bud near Volcan Domuyo


Chaetanthera villosa


Chaetanthera villosa- yellow form near Volcan Domuyo

[Mike Kintgen]

We continued northeast toward  Volcan Tromen before passing into Mendoza province.  Here we saw Argylia robusta.


Argylia robusta


Volcan Tromen with Maiheunia  patagonica  with ice crystals


  Volcan Tromen with Azorella monantha

[Mike Kintgen]

Parrots in a tree near Volcan Tromen


Junellia sp.


Looking north from Cerro Gloria west of Mendoza


Cerro Anconaugua  - Aconcagua, at 6960.8m  is the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres. It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the province of Mendoza, Argentina, 112km northwest of the city of Mendoza

[Mike Kintgen]

In Mendoza we stayed at the famous Las Lenas ski area here we saw Rhodophiala rhodolrion.


Rhodophiala rhodolrion near Las Lenas


Argylia bustillosii below Las Lenas


Schizanthus grahamii near Las Lenas

[Mike Kintgen]

Continuing north we took a break from driving our own vehicle and joined a tour to Volcan Maipu,  an amazing place with a 5000m+ volcano sitting in a megacaldera of an extinct super volcano.  We saw many high alpines here.


Perezia pilifera near Volcan Maipu and Lago diamante


Tarasa humilis near Volcan  Maipu and Lago diamante

North of Maipu we travelled north to Mendoza city and Aconcagua before turning around at Passo Cristo Redentor on the Chilean border.


Jaborosa laciniata at passo Cristo Redentor


Tropaoleum polyphyllum at Passo Cristo Redentor

It was an amazing trip.

Mike

[Lori S.]

Wow!  Absolutely stunning photos, Mike!  Thank you for showing them.

[Maggi Young]

A super photo essay from Mike showing  some of the plants the SRGC exploration grant enabled him to study. 
It is exciting that the SRGC can contribute towards trips like this to help Mike continue the DBG project.

Mike will be undertaking a  NARGS East Coast Speaker Tour this October and you can learn more about him here :  : https://www.nargs.org/speaker/mike-kintgen

[ruweiss]

Mike, what a floral paradise, thank you for showing these
 beautiful photos to us.

[fermi de Sousa]

Great pics, Mike!
Argylia is a new one on me; looks like an interesting genus,
cheers
fermi