Flora

• Alder: a tree related to the family of the birches that is tooth-leaved. It is more common in moist ground.

• Bromeliads: chiefly American tropical plants that grow on the surface of other plants. The most common bromeliad is the pineapple.

• Bryophytes: these are plants that evolved from algae, and most of them are mosses. Their small size permits them to grow anyplace, but are more abundant in humidity.

• Chuquiragua: a small thorny shrub that has a distinctive yellow flower. It dominates most of the paramo habitats.
• Epiphyte: the family of plants that grow on other plants non-parasitically. The most common examples in Ecuador are orchids and bromeliads.
• Ficus trees: this plant grows on tree branches, then lowers roots to the ground. These roots eventually thicken until strangling the host tree.
• Frailejones or pampas grass: a plant species that can get to be 15 ft tall, typical of the paramo. It is razor sharp and makes advancement difficult.
• Gentian: plant species in which the flowers group together in clusters, and the petals remain close together even in opened flowers. Only flying insects can pollinate it.
• Graminaceous: plants with the structure of a hollow, large stem and flowers with the form of spikes. Common examples are wheat, rice, corn, etc.

• Gynoxis: a strong plant that can be found in certain types of montane forest. Its seeds are easily carried away by the wind into new areas.
• Helicon or passion fruit: a colorful tropical plant that belongs to the family of the vines. It is the breeding place for heliconiinae butteflies.

• Lava cactus: one of the first plants to grow on a fresh lava flow. It feeds from its own decaying stems.
• Lycopod: a plant species similar to ferns and to mosses. They reproduce by the use of microscopic spores like ferns, but are usually small and with mossy leaves.
• Mangrove: a tree species that only grows in the coast, in areas where the high tide covers most of it. There are various types of mangrove forest.
• Mosses and lichens: found almost always together, both can grow in almost any condition. The moss is a plant and the lichen is an association of fungi and algae.
• Orchids: most orchids are found in the tropics, and their form is perfectly adapted to insect pollination. The microscopic orchid seeds are taken away easily by the wind.
• Palm tree: there are about 1000 palm tree species, and all grow on warm weather. They grow widely used products, like dates, coconuts, palm oil, wax and soap.
• Podocarpus: a tree that covers some big areas of forest, especially in the Podocarpus National Park. It is a small, tropical tree where many epiphytes can harbor.
• Polylepis: there are six different species of this genus in Ecuador. They do not have a time of the year to flower.
• Prickly pear cactus: a cactus that has evolved into a tree form. Its pads, fruit and flowers are eaten by land iguanas and giant tortoises.
• Pumaqui: this short tree is found in many different areas in the country. It reproduces through small berries and grows slowly.
• Quishuar: the time of flowering for these highland trees is between February and July. Their seeds can germinate one year after they have matured.
• Romerillo: the four species of this tree are in danger of extinction. It is the only conifer genus in the country, but other introduced species are taking over its habitat.
• Tree ferns: ferns are an ancient plant family that reproduces by microscopic spores. Ferns grow to tree height only in the tropics, and their leaves are feathery.