Peninsula Orchid Society

Peninsula Orchid Society Speakers Schedule: March 28, 2008

Orchids of Ecuador

Walter Teague

Trichocentrum teaguei

Walter Teague was born in Ecuador, and lived there until he was 20. He has been interested in nature, particularly plants since he was 5. His interest in orchids began when he was working for the airline, Pan Am. This gave him the opportunity to visit many countries, and while laying over in places like Guatemala and Panama, he would go out and collect orchids (this was in the days before CITES). During his exploits in various orchid habitats, particularly Ecuador, he was lucky to find many new species, and some have been named after him, including a genus (Teagueia). He has taken thousands of photos of his exploits in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Panama, Australia, New Guinea, Borneo and the Phillipines. To house his orchid collection, Walter began with a 6 x 8 ft greenhouse that eventually expanded to a 24 x 16 ft greenhouse. He collected many of the Pleurothallidinae, and eventually amassed a large collection of the miniatures, particularly Masdevallias and Lepanthes. He sold his entire collection to Dan Newman (owner of Hanging Gardens), and now he grows only a few plants that can grow outside in San Francisco. Walter's talk this month will feature Ecuadoran orchids and their habitats.

Walter Teague in a field of Tulipa doefleri, above Spili, Crete. April 2007

Photos by Ron Parsons.