Home / Resources and Writings / Botany Photo of the Day
Botany Photo of the Day
In science, beauty. In beauty, science. Daily.
May 20, 2008
Zephyranthes fosteri
Well, first of all, apologies for the flaky server these past few days. We're still not sure what's been causing the outages, but if we do figure out what's been causing it, we'll post the details in this thread on the forums. I'm hoping it won't crash when the notification emails are sent out, but I suppose we'll see...
In any case, it's been quite some time since we've had some photographs from El Charco del Ingenio in Mexico, courtesy of David Tarrant, so I was happy to see these recent pics from him.
Zephyranthes fosteri has English common names of fairy lily, rain lily and zephyr lily. In Mexico, David informs me, it is known as mayito, or little may flower. David sent along these details to me:
"Have attached these images of Zephyranthes fosteri taken at el Charco last Friday!!! I am always amazed at such delicate little flowers emerging form parched earth. The larger group is right in the middle of a lightly-used path,, while the single one by the rock is in a well-used path. They are, of course, bulbous perennials... They are also referred to as rain lilies, although we haven't had a significant rainfall for months (other than 1cm earlier last week). Maybe enough to trigger these blooms."
Zephyranthes fosteri is listed on the Weeds of Mexico site (Zephyranthes fosteri), but no details are given about its economic impact. Other details about the plant, including whether it is restricted to Mexico in its distribution or not, are hard to come by online.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 4:06 PM | Comments (5)
May 15, 2008
Polytrichum juniperinum
Thank you to Connor Fitzpatrick for today's write-up. Just a small update re: Connor -- he completed his work-study position here at the garden a couple weeks ago, and moved on to a summer job in Alberta. Best of luck to him! Connor writes:
Today's Botany Photo of the Day features a moss commonly found in the Nitobe Memorial Garden. The photograph is courtesy Michelle Fitterer.
Polytrichum juniperinum can also be found in the E.H. Lohbrunner Alpine Garden of the UBC Botanical Garden. Previously, Daniel had mentioned that members of the Polytrichidae possess a well differentiated stem anatomy capable of transporting water and nutrients. Another interesting feature of this group is the presence of lamellae.
Lamellae are unistratose (one cell layer thick) flaps of tissue found on the upper leaf surface of many polytrichid mosses. The UBC BIOL 321 website proves to be (yet again) a fantastic resource when it comes to examining moss morphology. Scroll down the page to find a cross-section of a leaf. The lamellae are made up of chlorophyllose cells arranged in flaps to increase the available area for photosynthesis. A cuticle can be found at the top of the lamellae preventing water from leaving and entering the leaf surface. This is adaptive, because too much water in the microenvironment of the leaf surface would hinder gas exchange required for photosynthesis and the loss of water would quickly lead to dessication.
The severely recurved leaf margins, visible in the leaf cross-section and in the photograph, also prevent water loss. This feature in addition to the lamellae and the stem's conduction ability allow members of the Polytrichidae to tolerate very exposed sites. This tolerance is reflected by Polytrichum juniperum's cosmopolitan distribution.
The mosses, as well as the other bryophytes (liverworts and hornworts), represent the first plant colonizers of land and are an understudied group of organisms. In fact, it is still being debated as to whether the bryophytes evolved from a single ancestor or are each of a separate lineage. As there is probably at least one bryophyte adapted to every kind of plant stressor, it's surprising that more work isn't being done to understand the evolution and adaptive strategies of this incredibly diverse group of organisms. In Phylogeny and diversification of bryophytes, Shaw and Renzaglia provide a bird's-eye view of bryophyte phylogeny.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 3:58 PM | Comments (5)
May 14, 2008
Fremontodendron californicum
Many thanks to mskaer from the San Francisco Bay area of California for sharing today's photographs with us. These were posted via the Botany Photo of the Day Submissions Forum in this thread.
California flannelbush was previously featured on BPotD (see: Fremontodendron californicum), but today's photographs add a couple different perspectives on the species.
Malvaceae.info provides an excellent summary of the tribe Fremontodendreae (a subgroup of the family consisting of two genera, Fremontodendron and Chiranthodendron), including details about species and cultivars.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 2:49 PM | Comments (2)
May 13, 2008
Boschniakia strobilacea
Last week, I visited the Siskiyou National Forest in southwest Oregon as part of a plant expedition. The primary purpose of this particular expedition was to waypoint locations and collect herbarium specimens in anticipation of subsequent trips for seed collection. The joint expedition had participants from UBC Botanical Garden, UBC Herbarium and the University of Washington Botanic Gardens.
The Siskiyous area is known for its endemic plant species, and I'll feature a few of the ones we spotted in future entries. For now, though, enjoy this oddity that has a slightly broader distribution (throughout much of California and southern Oregon). California groundcone is a parasitic plant found growing in association with manzanita (Arctostaphylos -- note the two fallen manzanita flowers in the second photograph) or Arbutus.
Only a few species of Boschniakia are recognized: Boschniakia strobilacea, Boschniakia hookeri (native from California north to British Columbia) and Boschniakia rossica (native to northwestern Canada, Alaska and temperate northeastern Asia). Boschniakia himalaica, a native of eastern temperate Asia, is also sometimes considered a species (presumably segregated from a broader definition of B. rossica) . This leaves me with a bit of a puzzle, as there is a John Davidson photograph of "Boschniakia strobilacea" from Savary Island in British Columbia, which is far outside the range of that particular species. A bit of a head-scratcher, but there are many possible errors: perhaps the location is incorrect (Davidson did travel to California), perhaps B. hookeri wasn't recognized as distinct from B. strobilacea at the time, perhaps the slide metadata is incorrect, and so on...
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:43 AM | Comments (6)
May 12, 2008
Hepatica nobilis
Thanks once again to Jackie Chambers, UBC Botanical Garden horticulturist, for supplying both the photograph and write-up for today's BPotD!
This superb little perennial is currently flowering in the E.H. Lohbrunner Alpine Garden at UBC Botanical Garden. Hepatica nobilis is native to woodlands of temperate Asia and Europe. The flowers are an exquisite violet-blue, occasionally white or pinkish, and are produced in February to May. Each individual flower is supported by a hairy, leafless stem, perhaps reaching 10cm in height. A selection of flower photographs of Hepatica nobilis are available via Texas A&M. For an alternative perspective on the flowers, see Hepatica nobilis under ultraviolet light.
The leaves of Hepatica nobilis are basal and have a leathery texture. The leaves remain on the plant throughout the winter, and the old leaves only begin to die back in the late spring after new foliage has begun to emerge. Leaves are dark green, often turning reddish with age, and have distinctive lobed edges. Liverleaf, one of the common names for this plant, is based on the colour and shape of the leaves.
The association with liver extends beyond the common name. The genus Hepatica is derived from the Greek word hepar, meaning liver. This refers to the leaves, as well to the medieval belief, based on the Doctrine of Signatures, that a plant with liver-like leaves would be useful in treating liver aliments. Hepatica nobilis is still used for medicinal purposes today.
Hepatica nobilis is myrmecochorous, meaning it relies on ants for seed dispersal. The seeds have special ant-attracting appendages called elaisomes. These appendages are often rich in nutrients. The ants collect the seeds, then take them to their nests. Once the elaisomes have been eaten, the rest of the seed (which is still intact and viable) is discarded and is able to germinate in its new location. Read more on the fascinating world of myrmecochory.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 1:53 PM | Comments (3)
May 9, 2008
Musa textilis
Connor is responsible this series:
Musa textilis is the third of three plants from the GFU for Underutilized Species series. Many thanks to Hannes Dempewolf and Paul Bordoni. Photo courtesy of Botanische Bilddatenbank.
Abacá is a species of banana (Musaceae) with inedible fruits, native to the Philippines. It is also grown widely in Borneo and Sumatra. Sometimes it is referred to as "BacBac". The plant is harvested for its fibre, called Manila hemp. The fibre is extracted from the sheaths, i.e., the bottom part of the leaves forming the pseudo-stem. Other common names for Manila hemp include "Cebu hemp" and "Davao hemp".
The fibre made from Abacá is very durable and flexible. It is relatively cheap to produce and completely biodegradable. It can be made into many hard-wearing products and has a beautiful texture when made into hats and other products.
Until the advent of the first synthetic fibres, Manila hemp was the premiere material for marine ropes where its strength, lightness and water-resistance were appreciated. Today, although marine and other ropes are still important, it is mainly used in the paper-making industry. Because of its relatively long staple length, strength, and cellulose content, it is used to manufacture a range of specialized papers, including tea and coffee bags, sausage-casing paper, electrolytic papers, currency notes, cigarette filter papers, medical / disposal papers and some high-quality writing paper. There is also a thriving Abacá fibre handicraft industry operating in the Philippines, exporting worldwide.
At the start of the rainy season, well-developed suckers are transplanted in well-drained loamy soils. New leaves emerge in succession from the centre of the pseudo-stem. At first, they are rolled up, then gradually unfurl. The petiole of each new leaf is slightly staggered in relation to the previous one resulting in an upward spiral. The pseudo-stem can reach a height of more than 3 meters and the whole plant can become 6 meters tall.
At the beginning of the flowering stage, the plant is cut at the base of the pseudo-stem. Growers harvest Abacá fields every three to eight months after an initial growth period of 18-25 months for a total lifespan of up to 25 years (the rhizome continuously produces new suckers). The sheaths contain the valuable fibre, composed primarily of cellulose, lignin and pectin. The fibre is extracted from the leaf sheath by hand-stripping or via a machine. The strips are then scraped to remove the pulp, sometimes washed, and then sun-dried. The fibres can then be spun into twines or cordage.
Out of the world's total estimated annual production of 82,000 tons, the Philippines produce 67,000 tons, by far the largest producer. Over the past 40 years, production has been developed in Ecuador (today producing some 14,000 tons). Production in the Philippines is based on a "smallholder" system of agriculture, with most farms being between 3 and 5 hectares in size. Abacá grows on marginal lands and requires no external inputs, thus making it a suitable crop for resource-poor small scale farmers. The Ecuadorian system is more reminiscent of the African sisal industry and is essentially a large estate-based industry (although there is also a substantial smallholder co-operative movement). The traditional Abacá industry contributes to improving the livelihood of rural people and gender empowerment through providing employment opportunities for farmers, strippers, traders and processors.
Some Producers / Retailers / Distributors:
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 12:00 AM | Comments (3)
May 8, 2008
Oxalis tuberosa
Connor continues to be responsible for assembling this series:
The second of three entries featuring plants from the GFU for Underutilized species exhibits Oxalis tuberosa of the Oxalidaceae. Thanks Hannes and Paul! Photo courtesy of the International Potato Centre (CIP).
Oca is a starchy edible tuber that was domesticated in the Andes in South America. It is at least as hardy as the potato and grown in a similar way but it is not as susceptible to pests and diseases as potatoes.
When freshly harvested, the tubers have a pleasant acidic flavour. They are consumed cooked or baked. They can also be eaten raw in small quantities. Exposed to sunlight for a few days, the tubers lose some of their acidity and become more pleasant to eat.
Oca can be prepared, like most tuberous vegetables, by being boiled, baked or fried. In the Andes, it can be part of stews and soups, served like potatoes or served as a sweet. Oca is eaten raw in Mexico with salt, lemon and hot pepper.
Oca forms tubers only at a daylength of under 13-14 hours. Outside of its native area, such as in higher latitudes, autumn frosts may kill the plant before the tubers are fully developed. Under such conditions, commercially relevant yields are hard to achieve.
Projects to improve poor rural families' quality of life through the management and commercialization of oca have been implemented in various places. One example is the village of Puno in southeastern Peru where infant mortality and illiteracy rate are almost twice the national average. Mismanagement of organic garbage and loss of biodiversity has created serious problems with environmental deterioration, and families have little access to employment and income.
The project aims to contribute to the improvement of environmental conditions and increase the incomes of rural families in the Lake Titicaca area by encouraging farmers to produce oca. The project is targeting a new beneficiary group, Puno's indigenous people, by training them on how to make marmalade from oca. The project will also produce 40 metric tons of organic fertilizer from manure and crop residue, manage roughly 10 hectares of oca, and establish six rural micro enterprises.
Some Producers/Retailers/Distributors
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 12:00 AM | Comments (18)
