Flowers and Plants

Spanish Moss

This tree on the highland of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, has been colonized by Spanish moss and some other epiphytes (which are plants that live on other plants).

Spanish Moss

This tree on the highland of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, has been colonized by Spanish moss and some other epiphytes (which are plants that live on other plants).

Flower on Santa Cruz

An unidentified flower seen in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

Flower on Santa Cruz

An unidentified flower seen in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

Ferns on Santa Cruz

A wall of ferns from the highlands of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

Grove of Trees

This interesting grove of trees was seen in the El Chato tortoise reserve on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

Plantings at Royal Palm Hotel

This picture was taken from the grounds of the Royal Palm Hotel on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. I have not attempted identification of the various species of flora.

Plantings at Royal Palm Hotel

This picture was taken from the grounds of the Royal Palm Hotel on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. I have not attempted identification of the various species of flora.

Plantings at Royal Palm Hotel

This picture was taken from the grounds of the Royal Palm Hotel on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. I have not attempted identification of the various species of flora.

Impatiens on Santa Cruz

Not a Galapagos endemic species, these impatiens seen at the Royal Palm Hotel on Santa Cruz Island are still pretty.

Cactus Flower

The flower of the giant prickly pear cactus, this one was photographed at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

Scalesia Affinis

This species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family is endemic to the Galapagos. This particular scalesia affinis was seen on the grounds of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island.

Grove of Trees on Española Island

The boundary between the sparse ground vegetation and this grove of small trees on Española Island made for an interesting picture. The picture was taken during our the hike from Punta Suárez on Española Island in the Galapagos.

Vegetation on Española Island

Muted but diverse colors of vegetation seen on our hike from Punta Suárez on Española Island in the Galapagos.

Galapagos Carpet Weed

This small hill near Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos is covered with red galapagos carpet weed (esuvium edmonstonei).

Galapagos Clubleaf

This green plant is known as Galapagos Clubleaf or nolana galapagensis. This picture was taken near Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos.

Galapagos Carpet Weed and Clubleaf

This green plant is galapagos clubleaf or nolana galapagensis. The red plan is Galapagos carpet weed or sesuvium edmonstonei. This picture was taken near Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos.

Galapagos Carpet Weed and Clubleaf

This green plant is galapagos clubleaf or nolana galapagensis. The red plan is Galapagos carpet weed or sesuvium edmonstonei. This picture was taken near Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos.

Giant Prickly Pear Cactus

These giant prickly pear cactus were photographed on Santa Fé Island in the Galapagos.

Giant Prickly Pear Cactus

These giant prickly pear cactus were photographed on Santa Fé Island in the Galapagos.

Giant Prickly Pear Cactus

These giant prickly pear cactus were photographed on Santa Fé Island in the Galapagos. In this picture, you can see the hiking trail as well as a few member of our group (added for scale).

Giant Prickly Pear Cactus

These giant prickly pear cactus were photographed on Santa Fé Island in the Galapagos.

Prickly Pear Cactus

This prickly pear cactus is growing along the rock wall edge of a shallow lagoon near Darwin Beach on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos.

Lava Cactus

A lava cactus in the lava flow on Santiago Island in the Galapagos.

Post-flowering Prickly Pear Cactus

We arrived too late to see the flowing prickly pear cactuses on Rábida Island in the Galapagos, but in this picture you can still see the base where the flower has bloomed.

Post-flowering Prickly Pear Cactus

We arrived too late to see the flowing prickly pear cactuses on Rábida Island in the Galapagos, but in this picture you can still see the base where the flower has bloomed.

Post-flowering Prickly Pear Cactus

One solitary flower remains on this prickly pear cactus on Rábida Island in the Galapagos.