June 2026: I spent two weeks traveling through Peru, and got the chance to document some plants and insects. According to the United Nations, Peru is home to approximately 25,000 species of plants and an immense number of diverse insects species.
This documentation focused on two specific areas: Iquitos and Aguas Calientes. Iquitos is known as the “capital of the Peruvian Amazon”, and the largest city in the world with no access by a major road (Guinness World Records). Therefore, it is home to incredibly unique and stunning, tropical flora.
Aguas Calientes is famously known for its proximity to Machu Picchu (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This site is considered the start of the Amazon Rainforest, though Machu Picchu itself has a subtropical, mountain rainforest climate that reflects its “gateway” role between the highland, Sacred Valley and the Amazon Rainforest.
Using a 1964 Nikon F 35mm camera with a Macro lens, I was able to capture some images of the plants, fungi, insects, lichens, and mosses that call these incredible places their home.
Iquitos (The Amazon Rainforest)
Curious insect peering over the edge of an Nicotiana tabacum flower.
Common Name: Tobacco
Scientific Name: Nicotiana tabacum
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Solanaceae
- Genus: Nicotiana
- Species: Nicotiana tabacum
Ant crawling on the leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.
Common Name: Variegated Hibiscus
Scientific Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Malvales
- Family: Malvaceae
- Genus: Hibiscus
- Species: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Oenothera rosea growing at the base of a rock wall.
Common Name: Pink Evening Primrose
Scientific Name: Oenothera rosea
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Myrtales
- Family: Onagraceae
- Genus: Oenothera
- Species: Oenothera rosea
Wilting Oenothera rosea flower.
Amaranthus hybridus growing next to a boardwalk.
Common Name: Smooth Pigweed
Scientific Name: Amaranthus hybridus
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Caryophyllales
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- Genus: Amaranthus
- Species: Amaranthus hybridus
Ladybird beetle (Coccinellidae spp.) sitting on a leaf.
Leaves of Codiaeum variegatum.
Common Name: Gold Dust Croton
Scientific Name: Codiaeum variegatum
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Malpighiales
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Genus: Codiaeum
- Species: Codiaeum variegatum
Flowers from a Citrus aurantiifolia tree.
Common Name: Limón Sutil or Peruvian Lime
Scientific Name: Citrus aurantiifolia
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Sapindales
- Family: Rutaceae
- Genus: Citrus
- Species: Citrus aurantiifolia
Overhead view of Oldenlandia corymbosa flower.
Common Name: Flat-Top Mille Graines or Diamond Flower
Scientific Name: Oldenlandia corymbosa
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Gentianales
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Genus: Oldenlandia
- Species: Oldenlandia corymbosa
Partial picture of Canna indica bloom.
Common Name: Achira or Canna Lily
Scientific Name: Canna indica
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Zingiberales
- Family: Cannaceae
- Genus: Canna
- Species: Canna indica
Turnera subulata flower collecting rain.
Common Name: Dark-Eyed Turnera
Scientific Name: Turnera subulata
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Malpighiales
- Family: Passifloraceae
- Genus: Turnera
- Species: Turnera subulata
Yellow variation of Turnera subulata.
Segment of a Hibiscus schizopetalus flower.
Common Name: Japanese Lantern Hibiscus
Scientific Name: Hibiscus schizopetalus
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Malvales
- Family: Malvaceae
- Genus: Hibiscus
- Species: Hibiscus schizopetalus
Blooming Brunfelsia grandiflora.
Common Name: Chiric Sanango
Scientific Name: Brunfelsia grandiflora
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Solanaceae
- Genus: Brunfelsia
- Species: Brunfelsia grandiflora
Cluster of Caesalpinia pulcherrima flowers.
Common Name: Peacock Flower
Scientific Name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Genus: Caesalpinia
- Species: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Unidentified Tabernaemontana species flower.
Common Name: Sanango
Scientific Name: Tabernaemontana spp.
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Gentianales
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Genus: Tabernaemontana
- Species: Tabernaemontana spp.
Pycnoporus sanguineus (right) and Trametes elegans (left) on a fallen tree.
Clitoria ternatea flower in the shade.
Common Name: Butterfly Pea
Scientific Name: Clitoria ternatea
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Genus: Clitoria
- Species: Clitoria ternatea
Red-barred Amarynthis (Amarynthis meneria) butterfly resting on Hibiscus spp.
Side view of Solanum nigrum flowers and berries.
Common Name: Blackberry Nightshade
Scientific Name: Solanum nigrum
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Solanaceae
- Genus: Solanum
- Species: Solanum nigrum
White Pontederia rotundifolia near a river.
Common Name: Tropical Pickerelweed
Scientific Name: Pontederia rotundifolia
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Commelinales
- Family: Pontederiaceae
- Genus: Pontederia
- Species: Pontederia rotundifolia
Unidentified yellow and black striped insect on Attalea spp.
Jatropha gossypiifolia‘s pumpkin-like seed pod.
Common Name: Bellyache Bush
Scientific Name: Jatropha gossypiifolia
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Malpighiales
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Genus: Jatropha
- Species: Jatropha gossypiifolia
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Thorn treehopper (Umbonia spinosa) resisting on a berry of Coffea arabica.
Common Name: Coffee
Scientific Name: Coffea arabica
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Gentianales
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Genus: Coffea
- Species: Coffea arabic
Lantana camara with spreading sunset hue.
Common Name: Lantana (Siete Colores)
Scientific Name: Lantana camara
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Verbenaceae
- Genus: Lantana
- Species: Lantana camara
Hazy Ipomoea purpurea in the shade.
Common Name: Campanilla Morada (Morning Glory)
Scientific Name: Ipomoea purpurea
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Genus: Ipomoea
- Species: Ipomoea purpurea
Gamochaeta pensylvanica growing between the stones of a wall in Machu Picchu.
Common Name: Wira Wira (Pennsylvania Everlasting)
Scientific Name: Gamochaeta pensylvanica
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Gamochaeta
- Species: Gamochaeta pensylvanica
Two lichens: Usnea rubicunda and Parmotrema cristiferum found on a rock wall in Machu Picchu.
Physalis peruviana plant on a jagged mountain face in the Andes.
Common Name: Aguaymanto or Cape Gooseberry
Scientific Name: Physalis peruviana
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Solanaceae
- Genus: Physalis
- Species: Physalis peruviana
Winged inset on Bidens pilosa.
Common Name: Hairy Beggarticks
Scientific Name: Bidens pilosa
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Bidens
- Species: Bidens pilosa
First Dichorisandra thyrsiflora bloom in its inflorescence.
Common Name: Blue Ginger
Scientific Name: Dichorisandra thyrsiflora
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Commelinales
- Family: Commelinaceae
- Genus: Dichorisandra
- Species: Dichorisandra thyrsiflora
Underexposed Centenaria peruviana flower cluster.
Common Name: None recorded
Scientific Name: Centenaria peruviana
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Centenaria
- Species: Centenaria peruviana
Hieracium peruanum facing the Sun on the upper deck of Machu Picchu.
Common Name: Hawkweed
Scientific Name: Hieracium peruanum
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Hieracium
- Species: Hieracium peruanum
Urceolina microcrater hiding in the shade.
Common Name: Amazon Lily
Scientific Name: Urceolina microcrater
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Genus: Urceolina
- Species: Urceolina microcrater
Non-native Rosa spp. in Aguas Calientes.
Common Name: Wild Rose
Scientific Name: Rosa spp.
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Tracheophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Rosales
- Family: Rosaceae
- Genus: Rosa
- Species: Rosa spp.
Acmella oleracea growing on a sunny ledge in the Andes.
Common Name: Electric Daisy
Scientific Name: Acmella oleracea
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Streptophyta
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Acmella
- Species: Acmella oleracea
Unidentified member of the Asteraceae family.
Dark-orange Asclepias curassavica hiding from the Sun.
Common Name: Tropical Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias curassavica
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Gentianales
- Family: Asclepiadaceae
- Genus: Asclepias
- Species: Asclepias curassavica
References
- https://unctad.org/news/helping-peru-protect-and-benefit-its-biodiversity
- https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/274/
- https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/101153-largest-city-with-no-major-road-connection
- https://www.npr.org/2010/07/07/128365812/iquitos-peru-gateway-to-the-amazon
- https://lichenportal.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=54544
- https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/weedsbyflowercolor/green/gamochaetapensylvanica/
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/treehopper
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0ut0000000rCNtAAM/lantana-camara
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0ut0000000r9VwAAI/nicotiana
- https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plant-profile/HIRO3
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0u3d000000URWqAAO/oenothera-rosea
- https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plant-profile/AMHY
- https://research.usfq.edu.ec/en/publications/automatic-detection-and-classification-of-ladybird-beetles-in-wil/
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/codiaeum-variegatum/
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0ut0000000mdS5AAI/citrus-aurantiifolia
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0u3d000000URXNAA4/oldenlandia-corymbosa
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0ut0000002iNN5AAM/canna-indica
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:836689-1#synonyms
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:560792-1
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:37537-2
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1164658-2
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:82327-1
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0ut0000000rCFpAAM/clitoria-ternatea
- https://www.amazonian-butterflies.net/families/?tx_psbfieldguide_fg%5Baction%5D=show&tx_psbfieldguide_fg%5Bcontroller%5D=Species&tx_psbfieldguide_fg%5Bspecies%5D=102&cHash=988b2e7835ff90cbf01ec07197a9d0ec
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19322835/
- https://ncslg.cals.ncsu.edu/lenzites-elegans-spreng-pat/
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30048260-2
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:208161-2
- https://earth2mother.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/palla-conta-or-shapaja-palm-attalea-butyracea-amazon-rainforest-trees/
- https://www.fws.gov/taxonomic-tree/10795
- https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plant-profile/IPOMO
- https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plant-profile/gape2
- https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plant-profile/PHPE4
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0ut0000000rBbOAAU/bidens-pilosa
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:79533-2
- https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/28242/
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77192419-1
- https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/classification/36709
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77232629-1
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:261588-2
- https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/cird-taxon/a0ut0000000r9MLAAY/rosa
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:914778-1
- https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plant-profile/ASCU
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