Botany Photo of the Day

A grateful thank you to Georgie Sharp@Flickr for sharing today's photograph (original image | Flickr BPotD Group Pool). Do spend some time today visiting Georgie's set of Australian flower photographs – absolutely worth exploring!

This photograph didn't have a scientific name associated with it, but based on Georgie's use of “orange pin-cushion plant” (English common names for plants in the Proteaceae), comparisons to other Leucospermum in the pincushions gallery and resemblance to photographs of the wild species, I'm fairly certain this is Leucospermum cordifolium. I've strong doubts that this is the true species, though, considering the plant is cultivated and hybridized in Australia for the cut flower industry. To see a photograph of the wild species in South Africa, where it is native, see BPotD contributor Monika's image: Leucospermum cordifolium. Do note that Monika's photograph is of a more mature flower, so the match isn't perfect.

Instead of writing about the plant today, I'll direct you to one of the best online sources of information: Leucospermum cordifolium, by Hanneke Jamieson of the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

Entries are going to continue to be brief for the next ten days while I prepare for a couple presentations. If you live in the Vancouver area, you're invited to attend either or both of them – they're free to attend, and in both cases will feature many photographs you won't see on BPotD.

On the evening of Thursday, November 2 at the Vancouver Museum, I'll be presenting “Beauty and the Botanist”. Not only will this presentation include my 2006 photographs of plants and landscapes from BC and Washington, but I'll be weaving in the environmental thoughts and writings of the late Stan Rowe. I'm hoping the two elements combined will create something very special. More details are available from the Native Plant Society of BC (PS You can support the NPSBC by buying a calendar – order forms are on their site).

I'll also be presenting “Plants, Gardens and Natural Areas of Southwestern USA” on Nov. 7 at noon at the garden. This free seminar will be half travelogue and half botanical commentary from my early 2006 trip

Lastly, I should mention that Marc Hachadourian of the New York Botanical Garden will be talking about NYBG's glasshouse collections tomorrow at noon. Again, free. No shortage of opportunities to learn at UBCBG!