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Nov 20, 2009: Caltha leptosepala var. leptosepala
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Adansonia digitata
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October 8, 2009 : Edithcolea grandis
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Plant Family / Families: Apocynaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Edithcolea grandis N.E. Br.
Institution: Biology Greenhouse, Florida International University
Name Location: Miami, Florida, USA
Lindsay Bourque composed today's article.
Thank you to scott.zona@flickr for submitting today's Botany Photo of the Day (original image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool)!
This stunning flower is borne from a decumbent succulent stem; the stem is often eaten as a vegetable in Ethiopia and Somalia. Native to northeastern Africa, it is also found in very localized areas of Kenya, Tanzania and Yemen. Edithcolea grandis is the only representative of its genus. Its natural distribution is becoming more restricted and it should be considered a candidate for protection wherever it grows naturally. As Scott notes, it emits an odor that is described as "carrion" or "fetid" -- meant to mimic rotting meat in order to attract pollinating flies.
Commonly called Persian carpet flower for its colour and pattern, it is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental in desert gardens worldwide. However, it has gained a reputation as a particularly difficult plant to keep because of its very specific growing needs and will often succumb to rot before producing one of its tantalizing blooms.
Posted by Eric La Fountaine at October 8, 2009 10:00 AM
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Comments
Posted by: Susanne at October 8, 2009 10:19 AM
The correct family is Asclepiadaceae
Posted by: John Story at October 8, 2009 11:08 AM
i have a whole load of seedlings of this plant in a heated propogater at the moment, fingers crossed at least one of them will survive and produce a flower as fabulous as this one
Posted by: Alice at October 8, 2009 11:24 AM
John, the Asclepiadaceae has been subsumed into the Apocynaceae, based on both morphological and DNA evidence.
See http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/
Posted by: Scott at October 8, 2009 11:31 AM
Beautiful flower! The detail is stunning.
Posted by: chico at October 8, 2009 11:45 AM
WOW!!!
Posted by: viola at October 8, 2009 12:01 PM
Do you happen to know who Edith Cole was ?
Posted by: Marilyn Brown at October 8, 2009 1:11 PM
Miss Edith Cole (1859-1940)collected the type material for this plant in Somalia.
Posted by: Eric La Fountaine at October 8, 2009 2:38 PM
Beautiful, I wonder if they let visitors view it I live in South Florida and I'll be in Miami Saturday.
Posted by: Eric Bronson at October 8, 2009 3:20 PM
Do we know the purpose or function of the hairs on the other side of the petals? It looks to be a pretty fuzzy flower.
Posted by: Tim at October 8, 2009 4:30 PM
follow the link and you will find
scott zona flicker page and where
the picture was taken
the bloom is so unusal compared
to the rest of the plant
thank you
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at October 8, 2009 5:23 PM
The African representatives of this family are incredible! Much different than the type genus common throughout the USA. I would like to see how the pigments in the flower react to UV light.
Posted by: Christian at October 8, 2009 5:52 PM
oh where oh where could I find this plant???????
Posted by: dorothy at October 8, 2009 6:03 PM
I KNOW I have more and better photos of this somewhere. I had to put it out on my front porch - the flies loved it, but my nose didn't ;)
I hope I attched a url to flickr photos here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18825879@N00/sets/72157622545862814/
Edith (who LOVES the name of today's plant!!)
Posted by: Edith at October 8, 2009 6:12 PM
If you want to find out more about Asclepiads in general go to the web site of the International Asclepiad Society www.asclepiad-international.org
We produce a full colour journal three times a year.
The hairs by the way are supposed to attract flies as many move in the breeze.
Posted by: Alan Butler at October 9, 2009 3:04 AM
"the stem is often eaten as a vegetable in Ethiopia and Somalia"
An edible species in the Apocynaceae??? First one I've heard of. Is it the only one? They are usually poisonous, often dangerously so.
Posted by: Michael F at October 9, 2009 3:44 AM
Another fabulous example of amazing photography and the infinite variety of nature. Thanks to BPotD for keeping them coming. I love Asclepias but this plant makes me want to learn more about its "cousins".
Posted by: Deborah Lievens at October 9, 2009 5:45 PM
While working at the Durfee Conservatory at the University of Massachusette. We would had it in bloom and it seemed everyone who saw it would want to smell it. Then we were ask why did you let us smell it what a bad smell. Many laughs were ours as new students would learn about this interesting plant.
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at October 11, 2009 8:21 AM
Amazing capture of a beauty.
Posted by: De Kemist at November 6, 2009 3:19 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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The carrion smell thing makes you wonder (or at least me) if that pattern in the flower is supposed to mimic a bunch of wriggling maggots then :)
Susanne