We drive
from Vallenar to La Serena on Ruta 5 - also known as the
"Panamerican highway". We see no cacti on the long way to Domeyko. The
climate is obviously more humid in this region and the landscape is
fairly green. When we reach El Trapiche we see the first species of Copiapoa coquimbata.
In this sort of more friendly climate the plants don't have white
waxy epidermis which, up north, protect the plants from the solar
radiation and minimise their evaporation. Further ahead we also find Miqueliopuntia
miquelii
, Oxalis
gigantea and Nolana rupicola with nice flowers.
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Copiapoa
coquimbata |
Copiapoa coquimbata |
Copiapoa coquimbata |
Copiapoa coquimbata |
Miqueliopuntia miquelii |
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Nolana rupicola.
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Map of Chile |