Puerto Rico
Whatever they’re looking for, visitors will find it when they come to El Yunque
Those include seven endemic orchid species and one native orchid that are considered species at risk, she says. “Their rarity lies in their size,” says López about these special blooms. “We are talking about very small orchids, such as lepanthes selenitepala, endemic to the Luquillo Mountains, and lepanthes woodberiana, which measure only about 2.5 millimeters.” A naturalist guide can help you spot these tiny treasures where they grow, which is mostly along mossy rocks near streams and moss-covered tree trunks and branches in the forest. Other rare and fascinating plant species in the forest include bioluminescent mushrooms that are incredibly difficult to find. “Currently, we know of seven known species of bioluminescent fungi. But based on El Yunque’s biodiversity, it is estimated that there are 20 to 30 glow-in-the-dark species that have not yet been identified,” says López.
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