Botany Photo of the Day

A few bits of local news first before today's write-up. First of all, I've updated Peter Wharton's web page with the obituary the garden has been distributing, as well as posted details about the memorial fund. Secondly, a few people spoke with me at last night's membership tour about Hoshino's photography, so I've brought in my Hoshino's Alaska book if any of you want to drop by my office and have a look. I'll keep it here for at least a few weeks.

Back to BPotD: thanks again to UBC Horticulturist Jacqueline Chambers for today's photographs and write-up! Jackie writes:

Junellia tridens flowers in early to mid-July in the E.H. Lohbrunner Alpine Garden here at UBC. The clusters of pinkish-white flowers give off a subtle sweet fragrance that drew me (and this little bee) in to take a closer look at this unusual shrub.

Junellia tridens is native to South America, where it is found in southern Argentina and southeastern Chile in the Patagonian steppe ecoregion. The climate in this part of the world is predominantly dry and cold, and the area is constantly battered by strong winds. As a result of these conditions, Patagonian plants are tough -- adapted to withstand cold temperatures, drying winds and little precipitation. In general, the vegetation is predominantly dwarf cushion shrubs and tuft grasses. For a more detailed description of this region, see Patagonian steppe factsheet from the World Wildlife Fund.

Commonly called mate negre (mata negra), Junellia tridens is one of these tough little shrubs. It grows low to the ground, reaching about 60cm, rarely over 1 m. The compact branches and tight clusters of small leaves reduce the amount of surface area exposed to the elements and thus reduce water loss.

The following sites offer photos of the landscape and other interesting plants from this area of the world: Patagonia: Flowers, Flora of Patagonia, and (the commercial) Flora in Patagonia Pictures.