Podocarpus lies in the south of Ecuador between Loja and Zamora and comprises a large region of mountainous and lowland vegetation.

Cajanuma is the main entrance from Loja to visit the high altitude section of the park which is exhibited on this page.

The park gets its name from the Podocarpus tree, widely found in the area. It is the only native coniferous tree in Ecuador with all other tree species in the country being broad-leaved ones.

The park boasts of an abundant flora with many species being endemic.

Many species of bromeliads are found in the park. In the forest they grow as epiphytes in the trees to be closer to the light but in the open treeless higher region they grow as terrestrial plants rpooted in the soil.

 Bromeliads  have often bright-red flower stalks with the actual flowers being tiny and sitting at the end or in between the stallks. Once flowered the mother plant dies then.

Other epiphytes which abound in this park are orchids. One of the most common ones in Ecuador are orchids of the Pleurothalis genus. The flower is small and seems to grow right out of the fleshy leaf.

Other species of orchids seen on the nature trails of the reserve.

In the higher parts of the park above the forest, a wild array of plants inhabitat the area, grasses, asteraceas shrubs and ferns.

Bomareas are colorful flowers growing always in bunches and winding itself up on other plants.

Flowers of the Calceolaria are mainly yellow and have the form of a lady's slipper and hence its popular English name.

Sundown over the opposite mountain range from Podocarpus.