Home / Resources and Writings / Botany Photo of the Day
Botany Photo of the Day
In science, beauty. In beauty, science. Daily.
November 20, 2009
Caltha leptosepala var. leptosepala
White marsh-marigold or mountain marsh-marigold is an early bloomer on local mountains (this photograph is from June 26). Other plants in flower at the time on Mt. Cheam included violets, Erythronium grandiflorum, Phlox diffusa, Potentilla flabellifolia and Saxifraga oppositifolia. In British Columbia, this taxon is found at elevations ranging from 1300-1900m, with a preference for a southern exposure.
Caltha leptosepala var. leptosepala is one of two varieties recognized in E-Flora BC. The other is Caltha leptosepala var. biflora. However, the Flora of North America lumps the two together as Caltha leptosepala, and describes the taxon as "morphologically complex".
Intriguingly, this is one of the few members of the buttercup family that has a historical use of being eaten raw (most members of the family are poisonous). Plants of Coastal British Columbia notes that "the leaves and flower buds were eaten raw or cooked by Alaskan native people". The book also makes mention of the roots being boiled and appearing like sauerkraut (no mention of taste is given).
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 4:55 PM | Comments (3)
November 19, 2009
Xylaria hypoxylon
Lindsay again wrote today's entry:
Thank you to marcella2@Flickr for today's photopgrah (particularly if fungus is your fancy)! Marcella2's photo stream on Flickr is definitely worth a gander (original image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool)!
Xylaria hypoxylon is a wood-dwelling ascomycete commonly known as stag's horn or candle-snuff fungus (previously featured on BPotD here: Xylaria hypoxylon). It is identified by its erect antler-like stroma; these are black at the base but whitish throughout the many body and upper branches. The branches are the site of asexual spore production, also known as conidia (note, though, that these are produced at a microscopic level).
Xylaria also produces sexual spores, via perithecia. The perithecia are embedded (in the case of Xylaria hypoxylon) in the black base of the stroma. From each perithecium, spores are released one by one when ripe through a small pore, called the ostiole.
Art resource link (added by Daniel): Three people have forwarded me the following link so far, so I thought I should share it more widely: Christopher Niemann's Bio-Diversity weblog posting on the New York Times.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:30 AM | Comments (5)
November 18, 2009
Galanthus reginae-olgae
Ian Gillam, one of UBC Botanical Garden's Friends of the Garden, is the author of today's entry, as well as the photographer. Thank you Ian!
Snowdrops (Galanthus) are small bulbous plants. They produce pairs of mostly strap-shaped leaves and a single, hanging flower on a short scape. All of the 19 species currently recognized have white flowers (Galanthus means "milk flower") with green markings. Details of these markings, whether the leaves are green, glaucous or glaucescent and whether they lie flat against each other at their base or are folded together at the margins help to differentiate species found in different habitats. They occur from western Europe into the westernmost side of Asia.
In suitable areas, in the wild or in gardens, snowdrops, notably the common Galanthus nivalis, multiply steadily. Open deciduous woodland in mid-northern Europe can become carpeted with plants, a spectacle in earliest springtime. Among such large populations, a careful observer can sometimes find variants in markings, in size and shape of flower and in season of bloom. These variants have been collected over a considerable period of time by enthusiasts (galanthophiles). Where several species are in cultivation the chances of variation are increased by hybridization and many named cultivars are presumed to be of hybrid origin. A very few show markings in yellow rather than green and also have yellow ovaries. These have proven demanding to grow but newer examples are promised to be more vigorous, though still rare.
Snowdrops bloom over a long period and individual flowers last a long time in the garden, in part directly due to the cold conditions at blooming time but no doubt due also to the paucity of pollinating insects and the unfavorable weather for their activity.
Not all snowdrops bloom in late winter or early spring. Today's subject is Galanthus reginae-olgae, whose flowers open in late October or early November before the leaves are fully emerged. It is native to Sicily, former Yugoslavia and to Greece where it was named for that country's Queen Olga (1851-1926), grand-daughter, cousin and niece of Russian Tsars. She married the second King of modern Greece. Among their grandchildren is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The queen's snowdrop has alternated between being considered a subspecies of the common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis, and being a species in its own right. It is an interesting plant, blooming as it does at an unexpected time. It can be grown outdoors in Vancouver but is safer grown under protection from our wet winters, at least until more plants are available. Forms distinguished as Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis delay their blooming until spring and are thus more similar to Galanthus nivalis.
Another species, differing in its narrow, greener leaves, also blooms in late autumn. This is Galanthus peshmenii, native to Turkey. Its bulbs, flowers and leaves are slightly smaller.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 1:57 PM | Comments (8)
November 17, 2009
Heliotropium foertherianum
Lindsay B. is the author of today's entry:
Thank you to Wendy Cutler@Flickr for submitting today's photograph (original image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool)!
Well-known by the scientific name Tournefortia argentea, tree heliotrope was renamed several times in quick succession -- the currently accepted name seems to be Heliotropium foertherianum, a name published by Diane & Hilger in 2003 through a revision of the Boraginaceae.
Tree heliotrope (also known as velvet soldierbush or octopus bush) is native to coastal regions of the Indian Ocean: tropical Asia, Madagascar, and northern Australia. It can also be found as a native plant further east into the Pacific, on islands and atolls of Malesia, Micronesia and southeastern Polynesia. Growing in rocky or sandy soils, plants of Heliotropium foertherianum (PDF) are found only in a narrow ribbon of oceanside vegetation; it is therefore termed a "strand plant". It is a modern introduction to Hawaiian Islands, where it is commonly called kiden.
The small white flowers are borne in many-branched, silky clusters of coiled spikes near the ends of branches (hence the common name, octopus bush). The small green fruits, which look like small pointed peas, turn brown when mature and divide into four nutlets.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 2:10 PM | Comments (10)
November 16, 2009
Solanum carolinense
Lindsay Bourque wrote today's entry:
Thank you to BlueRidgeKitties@Flickr for submitting today's photo (original image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool)!
As noted by the photographer on Flickr, Carolina horsenettle is in fact not a nettle, but instead belongs to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Members of the Solanaceae are known for producing a diverse range of alkaloids, some of which can be toxic. In the case of Solanum carolinense, all parts of the plant contain solanine. Solanine is poisonous to humans and can irritate skin, causing a nettle-like rash. Given that the fruits of this plant look like small tomatoes, it is important not to mistake it!
Carolina horsenettle is considered to be a noxious weed in several states in the USA. It has the ability to spread vegetatively via underground rhizomes, as well as propagate by seed. Carolina horsenettle's status as a weed is further bolstered by the fact that is resistant to many herbicides; in fact, use of herbicides will often give horsenettle the advantage by removing competing weeds.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 5:45 PM | Comments (11)
November 13, 2009
Penstemon serrulatus
I'm on vacation, so another short entry today. It's a photograph of a native plant of British Columbia, so as to continue the series.
This species of beardtongue has a number of common names, including: Cascade beardtongue, Cascade penstemon, coast penstemon, and serrulate penstemon. It is distributed from Alaska to Oregon. Penstemon serrulatus is one of the few penstemon species that is native to both sides of the Coast-Cascade mountains (most western North American penstemon species are native only to east of the Coast-Cascades).
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 9:45 AM | Comments (17)
November 11, 2009
Lower Second Lake
A contribution to two photographic series in one photograph today. The scene is from British Columbia, and is part of the unplanned native plants of British Columbia series. Also, it's part of a now-annual reflection and remembrance series, beginning with last year's November 11 BPotD of Jasper National Park.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:00 AM | Comments (8)
