Flowering Plants

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July 3, 2009

Magnolia insignis

Douglas Justice, Curator of Collections here at the Garden, took today's Botany Photo of the Day and wrote the associated entry.

As I've mentioned previously, I was recently at the South China Botanical Garden in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, for an international symposium on the Magnoliaceae. Following the symposium's conclusion, I went on a tour of southern Yunnan Province in order to see magnolias in the wild. Together with my colleague Andrew Hill, Curator-Horticulturist of the David C. Lam Asian Garden, and about 20 other scientists and magnolia enthusiasts, we saw a huge range of magnolia species in the wild and in botanical gardens. This photograph, however, is of a plant in the Asian Garden here at UBC.

Magnolia insignis is an evergreen tree growing to 30 metres in the wild. The fragrant flowers are about 12 centimetres across when fully open, and they are composed of 9 to 12 tepals. The species is sporadically distributed throughout southwestern China, Indochina, and the Himalayas between 900 and 2600 metres; it is, moreover, remarkably cold hardy (to at least Zone 7). To be honest, a few of us were wondering how last winter, with its brutal temperatures and snow, would affect the health of our Asian magnolias. Predictably, many of our M. campbellii trees lost all of their flower buds, and some even suffered branch death on their limbs; happily, however, nearly all of our mostly untried Asian evergreen species came through with flying colours. You can read more about our sizable magnolia collection in this account by the late Peter Wharton, former curator of the Asian Garden.

There is considerable debate about names of magnolias and the ranking of the various groups within Magnoliaceae. Like the majority of North American scientists, we are now using the conservative two-genus concept championed by Richard Figlar and Hans Nooteboom, which includes only Magnolia and Liriodendron. There is an elucidation of this system on the Magnolia Society web site, here. In China, a variety of systems have been proposed, and the one adopted in the recently published Magnolias in China follows the system of the revered Chinese magnolia taxonomist Liu Yu Hu, which elevates a number of sub-genera and sections to generic level. In that account, there are 8 separate genera (not including Liriodendron), and the species pictured here is classified under Manglietia Blume.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 7:00 AM| Comments (9)

July 2, 2009

Eucrosia mirabilis

Thank you to Lorax for posting this treat of an image in our Botany Photo of the Day Submissions Forum, and for including a brief write-up as well. With the help offered by Lorax's post, Steve Coughlin wrote this entry.

Amaryllidaceae is a family of over 800 herbaceous, perennial, and bulbous species that are distributed broadly throughout the world. Eucrosia is a genus of 8 species endemic to the dry, rocky, western Andean slopes of Ecuador and Peru. Though the type specimen of E. mirabilis was collected in Peru, it has never been recollected there, and recent research conducted by Brian Mathew and Gwilym Lewis reports the plant to be native to southern Ecuador, where Lorax took today's photo.

According to Lorax, E. mirabilis—which means 'wonderful' Eucrosia—is "often referred to as a "lost" species - botanical descriptions exist as far back as 1817, but the type specimen doesn't describe the flower well". She proceeds to write that upon her encountering mirabilis, the plant's "spectacular flowering spike was about 50 cm tall, with white stamens projecting a good 10-15 cm. further than the green umbels. Flowers appeared before leaves after the dry season. It's an Ecuadoran native, thriving in biomes that get a distinct dry season (which is what stimulates blooming)".

The plant, which here hovers as elegantly as the upper part of a cat's eye, has large, fleshy bulbs that are able to survive longs periods of environmental hostility, though often without visible growth. It excels in warm temperatures and well-drained soil, and flowers in late spring and early summer, subsequently growing petiolate leaves that reach up to 30 cm. in width.

Source:

Mathew, Brian and Gwilym Lewis. "Eucrosia mirabilis." Curtis's Botanical Magazine 2.23 (2006): 157-162.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 8:48 AM| Comments (9)

June 30, 2009

Kalanchoe delagoensis

S.Q. Mehdi posted today's Botany Photos of the Day in our Flickr Pool. Thanks once again to S.Q. for a set of wonderful images. (Original Images)

Crassulaceae is the fourth largest family of succulent (water-retaining) plants. Structurally, the family is the simplest among succulents, consisting of plants that, in general, vary quite little in quantity of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Interestingly, Crassulaceae is, in spite of this structural simplicity, the most diverse succulent family in terms of habitat and climate tolerance, with the native conditions of different genera and species varying from arid deserts to moist marshes, and endurable climates ranging from searing heat to gelid sub-zero cold.

Kalanchoe, a genus of about 130 species, consists mainly of flowering shrubs and herbaceous perennials, though it boasts some annual and biennial species as well. The genus is native to Madagascar and to tropical regions of Africa and Asia.

Kalanchoe delagoensis is commonly known as 'mothers of thousands' and 'chandelier plant'. The species is native to Madagascar, though it is now naturalized in many tropical countries, where it is cultivated as an ornamental. Historically, K. delagoensis has also fulfilled the more practical role of a versatile medical treatment for infections, rheumatism, inflammation, and hypertension. That said, gardeners should note that this power to heal is matched by a power to harm: as many unfortunate grazing animals have experienced, the plant contains poisons (bufadienolide cardiac glycosides) that, if ingested without treatment, induce cardiac arrest.

The plant—which in today's photo seems either painted in pastel or molded from dusty terracotta—generally grows to a height and spread of 1 metre. It thrives in sandy soil with abundant water, adorning itself in waxy green leaves and dangling cylindrical flowers of pinkish-brown. The plants are viviparous, meaning that small plantlets are produced on the vegetative tissues (in this case, on the margins of the leaves). These plantlets drop to the ground, spawning the prodigious amount of offspring that accounts for the first common name mentioned above.

Primary Source:

Rowley, Gordon. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Succulents. New York: Crown Publishers, 1978.

Posted by Stephen Coughlin at 3:55 PM| Comments (10)

June 29, 2009

Caridocrinum giganteum var. giganteum

Just under three years ago, on 3 July 2006, Daniel featured the recently-bloomed giant Himalayan lily, Cardiocrinum giganteum, on Botany Photo of the Day, and aptly referred to the plant as a "hallmark" of the Garden's collection. In the cool, breezy air of last Friday morning, after passing the towering giganteum stem that still stands in the stairway of our administration building, Tom Wheeler welcomed the plant's fragrant flowers back into the garden, and recorded the encounter on the film of his camera. Thank you to Tom for sharing today's lovely photo. Steve Coughlin wrote the entry.

Cardiocrinum—another herbaceous, bulbiferous member of Liliaceae—is a small genus conventionally split into three species: Cardiocrinum cathayanum, Cardiocrinum cordatum , and Cardiocrinum giganteum. The genus is distributed broadly throughout the sub-alpine regions of northeastern India and Nepal, through several parts of China and northwestern Myanmar (Burma), and into Bhutan as well. Cardiocrinum species generally grow in forests or on hillside slopes, where they excel in a combination of shade, humid air, and moist soil.

Cardiocrinum giganteum, first collected in the second decade of the 20th century, is native to elevated forests at 1200-3600 metres. The plant's hollow green stem reaches its apex at a height of 3-5 metres and spreads its large, leathery, and heart-shaped leaves out to a diameter of around 100 centimetres. In mid-summer, an ensemble of large trumpets, creamy-white or green and internally streaked with red or purple-red, unfold from the lengthening raceme. The plants die after flowering, leaving behind small offsets that will flower some 3 or 4 years later.

Today, the flowers hang quite close together, like members of a swaying choir pushed shoulder-to-shoulder. The fact that they have just arrived combines with our knowledge of their transience to make us ever more attentive to the sweet subtleties of their aromatic melody.

Posted by Stephen Coughlin at 9:07 AM| Comments (12)

June 27, 2009

Calochortus superbus

Today's Botany Photo of the Day was taken by Friend of the Garden Ian Gillam. He grows the flowers under cover at his Vancouver home. Steve Coughlin wrote the entry.

Calochortus, a genus of over 70 herbaceous species, derives its name from the Greek for "beautiful grass". The genus is a member of the lily family, and is renowned for its showy flowers, which rest elegantly atop single stems that rise from perennial bulbs. Calochortus species all have a single basal leaf, inflorescence-supporting bracts, and a perianth composed of three sepals and three petals. These petals and sepals vary from each other in terms of size and colour, and, in this, Calochortus is unique among members of Liliaceae. Though its occurrence seems to be centered in California, where 40 species grow in the wild, Calochortus is in fact quite widely distributed along the western coast of North America, extending from the southern parts of British Columbia through to the northern tip of Guatemala and as far east as the Dakotas. One species, Calochortus nuttallii, is the state flower of Utah.

Calochortus superbus —the species featured in the striking chiaroscuro of today's photo—was first collected in California's Yosemite Valley in the early years of the 20th century. This non-invasive species—commonly called the superb mariposa lily—is endemic to California, where it grows in open meadows, valley grasslands, and foothill woodlands. Generally reaching a height of 40-60 centimetres, C. superbus flowers in late spring and early summer, and enjoys full sun and well-drained soil. Though the plant goes dormant in the summer, it is hardy to zones 7 through 11 and can survive at fairly high altitudes as well (up to 2400 metres). The stems generally bear 1 to 3 upright flowers that take the shape of a small cup; each of the overlapping petals is blotched at the base with a chevron of deep purple or brown surrounded by vivid yellow, though the species exhibits a broad diversity of colour. The exterior of the petals is generally the same colour as the interior, and, as if to pique the curiosity of passersby, it displays a faint, alluring shadow of the intricate internal design.

Source:

Gerriten, Mary and Ron Parsons. Calochortus: Mariposa Lilies and their Relatives. Portland: Timber Press, 2007.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 7:00 AM| Comments (17)

June 26, 2009

Ribes rubrum 'Red Lake'

Eric La Fountaine took today's Botany Photo of the Day in our food garden. Douglas Justice and Steve Coughlin co-wrote the entry.

Ribes is a genus of about 150 deciduous flowering shrubby species—the currants and gooseberries—which are primarily native to temperate areas in the Northern Hemisphere, with a few species occurring in South America. Gooseberries are differentiated from currants on account of their spiny stems and often larger fruit. Though they have acquired a measure of notoriety as hosts for the dreaded white pine blister rust (their cultivation actually remains prohibited in some U.S. states), Ribes species—red and black currants in particular—nevertheless have a rich and diverse history as raw materials for human pleasure and practice: the plants have been grown as ornamentals, and they have been used as astringents, as treatments for rheumatism and fever, and as antidotes for digestive, kidney, and hormonal problems as well. Interestingly, the common designator, "currant," is actually a misnomer, and is thought to have derived from a historical mutation of the Anglo-Norman French "raisins de Corauntz" (grapes of Corinth): the dried fruits of Ribes are easily mistaken for the tiny raisins that were famously exported throughout Europe from the Greek city of that name.

Ribes rubrum (red currant) cultivars, which can grow to a height of nearly 2 metres with a spread of almost 3 metres, were first produced in large quantities in France and Belgium in the 17^th century. This rugged species is hardy to zone 6 and enjoys loamy soil combined with either full sun or partial shade. The plants need good air circulation in order to overcome their susceptibility to mildew. The small, pendulous flowers of 'Red Lake', which bloom in late July, are a somewhat unimpressive green-yellow, but they soon enough develop into the sour, fibrous, and vitamin C-rich red berries that are used in preserves, puddings, and pies. Of course, humans are not alone in their appreciation of this sapid little fruit. Birds of all kinds love the berries, and they therefore lay vigorous siege to the plants in order to reap this tart reward. Depending on where Ribes is sited and for what purpose it is grown, this siege can be either to the gardener's delight or to her despair.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 7:00 AM| Comments (14)

June 25, 2009

Colocasia esculenta

Colocasia esculenta is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics for its starchy edible corms and nutritious leaves. It is believed to be one of the earliest crops cultivated by humans. The origin of the species is uncertain, but it is presumed to be southeast Asia, the home of all other species in the genus. Evidence indicates cultivation in tropical India as early as 5000 BCE. From there its use spread westward to Egypt and the Mediterranean.

The comestible crop was also very important to Pacific Islanders. Cultivation in Hawaii led to the selection of over 150 varieties, including several used for the production of poi—a fermented paste of the cooked corms. Colocasia species contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals, which must be removed by soaking or cooking.

The large, peltate, heart-shaped leaves glow in the setting sun in today's image. Leaves of C. esculenta can grow to 60 cm on plants that reach 1 to 2 m tall. Many variations of colour and form have been developed by a long history of cultivation, lending to the plants frequent ornamental use in modern day gardens. It is a returning perennial in zones 8b and 9, an evergreen perennial in its native tropical climate, and enjoys full sun or partial shade along with copious amounts of water. Here in Vancouver, the plant would not survive the cool winter, but each year it grows from its corms, which are lifted and stored in the fall.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 7:00 AM| Comments (10)

June 24, 2009

Styrax confusus

Today's Botany Photo of the Day was taken by Eric La Fountaine, and Stephen Coughlin wrote the accompanying entry.

Each day, this showy specimen of over 6 metres presses its flowers back and forth against the glass of my office's window. The tree, one of 130 species subsumed by the Styrax genus, rises high above a small, shallow lagoon, and heaves its thin woody branches over the railing of the wooden walkway that gives entrance to the garden. Looking up from my desk, I see several visitors observing the mass of bees that hovers hungrily in and out of the tree's pendulous white flowers, which hang like small cathedral bells from a scaffold of oblong, leathery green leaves. Nearly twenty years ago, when the seed of this Chinese native (collected at Huangshan, Anhui province) arrived at the garden, it was identified as Styrax dasyanthus, and we affixed a small rectangular plate bearing that name to the same walkway over which, now, with the advantage of two decades, the tree hoists its healthy upper half.

Last month, a re-examination of the tree's inflorescences—undertaken by botanist Beryl Zhuang as part of a garden-wide identification verification project—revealed that this original identification was in fact inaccurate, and that the species was rather—and rather appropriately in this case—Styrax confusus. The re-identification was supported by two distinct findings: firstly, close observation found the structure of the inflorescences to be racemose rather than paniculate (the latter of which is characteristic of dasyanthus); secondly, examination showed the plant's fruit to be considerably larger than that of dasyanthus and less pointed at its apex (more obovoid). Though historically other species of Styrax (S. benzoin, for instance) have offered more raw materials to the sensuous curiosities of man (resins used in perfumes, incense, and medicines), confusus remains a lovely specimen, a fine addition to any garden, and, in this case, a subtle reminder of how the minute mysteries of plants can sometimes mislead even the trained eye of the scientist.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 8:00 AM| Comments (11)

June 23, 2009

Delonix regia

S.Q. Mehdi posted today's Botany Photos of the Day on the UBC Botanical Garden Flickr pool earlier this month, and Stephen Coughlin composed the write-up. Thank you to S.Q. for a fine set of images. (Original photos: Full Tree; Flower)

Delonex regia, commonly known as royal poinciana or flamboyant tree, is a fast-growing (up to 1.5 metres per year), threatened native of Madagascar. Its epithets suggest something of the plant's appeal to both the eye and the imagination. In early summer, the tree erupts into a spectacular conflagration of red, and a closer look reveals that each of the tightly clustered flowers has five gently crinkled petals, four of which are nearly uniform in shape, size and rich red hue, while the fifth (the 'standard'), spotted and orange-yellow, rises elegantly to a few centimeters above its peers. Feathery, compound bipinnate leaves underlie the inflorescence. The trunk, which can sometimes reach 50 metres in height, bears smooth, light-brown bark. Due to the strength and complexity of its surface root system, the species is commonly considered invasive, and due to its popularity and abundance in the Caribbean, the tree is often thought to be a native of the region.

Though vulnerable in the wild, flamboyant tree is today naturalized in many tropical areas. It is hardy in zones 9 through 11 and cultivated in several different types of soil. Delonex regia is generally grown as an ornamental, though its seeds are sometimes used practically in percussive instruments like the maraca.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 8:00 AM| Comments (15)

June 22, 2009

Eremerus × isabellinus

Along with today's Botany Photo of the Day, Douglas Justice, Curator of Collections here at the UBC Botanical Garden, provides a helpfully informative entry.

Pictured are two Eremurus × isabellinus hybrids: first, dressed in peach-coloured flowers, 'Cleopatra'; second, an unknown yellow-flowered cultivar, probably 'Image', which only arose this year (in the second year) from amongst the stems of 'Cleopatra'. There are several group names for hybrid foxtail lilies, each referring to a particular place or breeder. For example, the best-known is the Shelford hybrid strain of foxtail lilies, developed by Sir Michael Foster (1836-1907) of Great Shelford, Cambridge, England. Foster was an eminent professor of physiology at Cambridge University, and he served as Secretary of the Royal Society as well. He was perhaps best known as an iris collector, and is remembered for his suggestion that, "horticulture is a pious occupation," substantiating his claim with the assertion that, "the gods rejoice when they see a good man struggling with adversity". Foster was among the first to receive the Victoria Medal of Honour from the RHS. In the popular literature, Eremurus × isabellinus hybrids are known as Shelford Hybrids—often even listed as E. × shelfordii—but 'Cleopatra' is actually a Highdown Hybrid, and 'Image' belongs to an increasingly popular group called the Ruiter Hybrids. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any substantial historical information on either of these two hybrid groups.

Foxtail lilies are challenging subjects, especially in Vancouver's wet winter climate. Their octopus-like, sprawling, fleshy rhizomes require perfect drainage, and the plants need maximum sun exposure to flower well; nevertheless, the hybrids are somewhat easier both to establish and to maintain than the wild species. I once heard the renowned gardener (and garden writer) Christopher Lloyd describe his method for cultivating foxtail lilies. He would dig a large hole in a well-drained, sunny spot, and pour builder's sand into the hole so that it would form a cone (the top of which was approximately 10 to 15 cm below the ground level); he would then lay the rhizome over the cone and backfill with the native garden soil. This would position the crown and arms of the rhizome appropriately and ensure that the rot-vulnerable underside of the rhizome would stay dry. Today's photograph was taken in the plaza at the entrance to the Botanical Garden. The soil here is relatively sandy, infertile and well-drained. The spring-flowering Koelreuteria paniculata (golden rain tree)—which prefers similar dry, sunny conditions—provides the background.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 9:05 AM| Comments (10)

June 20, 2009

Elaeocarpus hainanensis (tentative identification)

Today's photo and entry once again come from the camera and pen of Douglas Justice.

As a person fascinated with plants of all kinds—though admittedly, I'm more familiar with temperate plants—I couldn't help but be impressed with the range of tropical and subtropical plants at the South China Botanical Garden, where I attended the Second International Magnolia Symposium this past May. I should confess, too, that woody plants, especially trees, are my great passion. Leaving magnolias aside, one of the most beautiful groups I saw in the garden was the Elaeocarpus collection. The tree pictured is about 5 m tall and about as wide. Each and every branch was festooned with sweetly scented cream and white flowers. The overall effect of the fringed blooms against the glossy, deep green leaves was exceptionally beautiful. In all, I saw some five distinct species, though there were probably many more in the collection.

The name hainanensis indicates that this species is found on Hainan Island, off the south coast of China (it also occurs on the adjacent mainland and in Indochina). Although unlabeled, the species resembled other trees of E. hainanensis, so this is the name I've provisionally given to it; as there are about 350 species in the genus, however, I'm just as likely to be wrong about the identification. I strongly suspect that many species are grown as ornamentals because of their clean, evergreen foliage and their great beauty when in flower.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 7:00 AM| Comments (16)

June 19, 2009

Livistona chinensis

Today's Botany Photo of the Day once again comes from the pages of the album that Douglas Justice collected on his recent trip through China. Stephen Coughlin provides his third entry.

In its native tropical, sub-tropical, and warm temperate habitats of coastal Asia (China, Taiwan, and southern Japan), Livistona chinensis—the Chinese fan palm—often reaches upwards of 15 metres (45 feet). At the trunk's apex, the characteristically costapalmate (and scroll down here ) green leaves (which can grow to a diameter of 5 metres) collapse back toward the earth like layers of fountain water cascading softly downward from the peak of their trajectory. For this reason, many happily refer to the species as the fountain palm, and just as the figure of its namesake evokes a sense of sweet respite and replenishment, the species itself produces raw materials for human nourishment and raiment, and it forms a cool canopy through which only cracks of sunlight can penetrate. While it does indeed provide humans and animals with a measure of protection from the heat of the tropical sun, L. chinensis guards itself against the baleful consequences of drought by way of a long tap root that generally extends to the cool, moist depths of 2 metres. Of course, today the palm is a popular domestic and commercial plant that rarely confronts the adverse soil and climate conditions against which it is so hardy: in the warmer parts of North America, it is generally sited in shopping mall pots and alongside manicured highways or caring homes.

Botanical gardens contain multitudes in several senses: beyond the heterogeneity of visible and invisible life forms that inhabit or make use of this land, that is, the garden is by nature home to a broad spectrum of mood and ambience. Odd moments find one immersed in a tour group or a research party, while others are steeped in the tranquility and solitude of an isolated corner or an often overlooked path. Though it was taken in the South China Botanical Garden, which, as a rule, hums with the frantic energy of practical human endeavor and association, this photo seems to suggest the latter form of experience—of leaving the heat, light, and din of the highway and the beaten path behind for the serene terrain of whispers, shadows, and the unexpected.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 9:07 AM| Comments (11)

June 18, 2009

Rodgersia sambucifolia

Douglas Justice, the Curator of Collections here at the UBC Botanical Garden, took today's Photo of the Day in the David C. Lam Asian Garden. Stephen Coughlin contributes his second entry.

Rodgersia, a genus of five herbaceous perennial species from the moist valleys and forests of East Asia (Himalayas, China, Korea, and Japan), is known for its large, pinnately or palmately compound leaves, its spreading underground stems, and its sizable paniculate inflorescences (up to 2 m long), which are studded with numerous white or pink star-shaped flowers. The genus is named for the distinguished mid-19th Century United States Admiral John Rodgers, whose exploring and surveying expedition contributed significantly to early American knowledge of the eastern and northern waters of the Pacific Ocean and included the first scientific collection of a Rodgersia species.

The smallest and reportedly least hardy of the rodgersias, R. sambucifolia was first collected by British plant hunter Ernest Henry Wilson on his 1904 expedition to China. The species is native to the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan, but is not as well known as most other species. The specific epithet recalls Sambucus, the elderberry, which R. sambucifolia's elegant, deep green leaves resemble quite closely. The species, like all rodgersias, thrives in semi-shade and moist soil, looking well when sited near water. In June, R. sambucifolia's creamy blooms glow; do not wait to take in this refulgent drama, however, for the initial whites and pinks of June soon turn to weaker browns and greens. Fortunately, the handsome foliage more than makes up for any late floral indiscretion, and the plants continue to look fine through the summer with shade and moisture. In winter, the plants die back to the ground cleanly and completely. In the Vancouver area, the species is completely hardy (Zone 7), and a skiff of leaf-mould in the fall is all that the gardener needs in order to maintain a colony; the leaves both feed the plants and protect the ground from the pounding of the coming winter rain.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 10:00 AM| Comments (6)

June 17, 2009

Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'

With today's posting, we welcome summer student, Stephen Coughlin, whose duties include Botany Photo of the Day. This entry was written by Stephen and the photo was taken by Eric La Fountaine.

Euphorbiaceae (the spurge family), which consists of around 300 genera and 7500 species, is native to both the temperate and tropical climate zones. Euphorbia griffithii is a metre-high herbaceous perennial that hails from the eastern Himalayas to the mountains of Myanmar (Burma) and western China. It ignites into bloom in early summer. The cultivar 'Fireglow', which is more deeply coloured than the species, welcomes visitors at the entrance to UBC Botanical Garden with a series of chromatic juxtapositions simultaneously subtle and strong: on its floral bracts, rich reds mix with searing yellows and oranges as if on the palette of an Old Master, while the dark burgundy of the stem and the green of the waxy leaves lend further contrast and contribute to the intensity of the blazing blooms above. This intensity culminates in the fall, when the floral apparatus turns brick red.

The vividness of the bloom, which to some suggests a measure of resilience and assertion, is indeed matched by the vigour with which 'Fireglow' confronts its surroundings. The species is robust enough to withstand both hostile pollutants and the vast spectrum of weather conditions associated with Zones 4 through 9; E. griffithii tends toward the invasive, however, at least in garden situations. Paraphrasing renowned gardener and garden writer Christopher Lloyd, the species is aggressive, and its sustained struggles when matched with a similarly dominant species leave the gardener only to referee. In addition to these somewhat bellicose tendencies, 'Fireglow' has another menacing trick up its sleeve. While the plant's capacity to repel the onslaughts of deer and other animals is undoubtedly a benefit in the garden, gardeners beware, for the milky sap that fills the stems of this beautiful spurge is toxic.

For those wishing to explore the plants of the Himalayas, Laboritoire d'Ecologie Alpine has a searchable database, Flora Himalayan Database, which provides links to other Himalayan flora resources (Original French).

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 10:01 AM| Comments (16)

June 16, 2009

Calliandra eriophylla

Today's Botany Photo of the Day comes from the UBC BPotD Flickr pool. J.G. in San Francisco contributes the photo and the included write-up. Thank you, J.G. Original photo here. J.G. writes:

"Calliandra eriophylla, commonly known as fairy duster, is a low spreading shrub which is native to deserts and arid grasslands in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and Mexico.

"The flowers, which appear between late winter and late spring, have dense clusters of pale to deep pink stamens and are about 5 cm wide. The shrub is usually between 20 and 50 cm high and has bipinnate leaves.

"Alternative common names for this species include Mock Mesquite and Mesquitella."

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 10:15 AM| Comments (10)

June 15, 2009

Drimys winteri

This photograph was taken at the offices of the Chagual Botanic Garden (English translation) in Santiago, Chile, last October. The garden is in development and is not yet open to the public, but I had the good fortune to tour the garden site with the director, Antonia Echenique. The design for the new garden, which will feature native plants and those from other Mediterranean climate zones, has been carefully planned and the garden will be one of the best places to see Chilean plants.

This entry was co-written by Douglas Justice, Randal Mindell and myself.

Drimys winteri is an evergreen tree or shrub native to temperate rainforests of Argentina and Chile. According to Plants for a Future, The aromatic pungent bark is powdered and used as a pepper substitute in Brazil, Chile and Argentina, and is rich in vitamin C. According to Clements Robert Markham in his book The Sea Fathers (Cassell & co., 1884), Winter, who was captain of the Elizabeth (one of five ships in Francis Drake's fleet) saved his crew from the ravages of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) on the voyage home by means of a decoction of the bark.

The genus name is from the Greek: drimys = acrid, pungent (from the taste of the bark). Captain Winter evidently steeped the bark in honey to remove some of its acridity. Drimys winteri was named by Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Johann Georg Forster. Johann the elder was the naturalist in Cook's second voyage in 1773.

Drimys is of considerable interest to botanists due to the lack of vessels in their water-conducting tissues. Members of Winteraceae have long been thought to be an early-diverging branch of the angiosperm tree of life. Fossil evidence for the antiquity of the family comes in the form of Lower Cretaceous (~125 million years ago) pollen tetrads. By the Late Cretaceous, there is abundant evidence for the family in the form of vesselless wood, leaves and pollen in places as far flung as California and James Ross Island (off the Antarctic Peninsula).

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 8:50 AM| Comments (9)

June 12, 2009

Clematis montana var. wilsonii

Curator of Collections, Douglas Justice contributes today's photos and write-up.

UBC Botanical Garden is renowned for its collection of woody climbers (lianas) primarily because we encourage many of them to climb into the mature conifers in the David C. Lam Asian Garden. The genus Clematis is well represented in all parts of the garden, with wild Asian species representing approximately half of the collection. See this link for a list of clematis accessions in the garden.

Clematis montana var. wilsonii commemorates E.H. (Chinese) Wilson (1876-1930), who introduced vast numbers of plants to cultivation, primarily from China and Japan. This variety from southwestern China is less well known than the more commonly cultivated selections of Clematis montana var. rubens (which are generally larger and pink). Most references describe var. wilsonii as late-flowering (mid to late June) and strongly fragrant, smelling of hot chocolate. The aroma to me is considerably more complex, especially when smelled at close range. A number of my colleagues have been debating the particular components of the aroma—what else do staff at a botanical garden do at lunch?—and we've come up with quite a list, including chocolate (of course), but also peppermint, cinnamon, cardamom, carob bean, narcissus (the large trumpet types), oaked Chardonnay, and Advocaat liqueur—the more elusive and volatile components being expressed more strongly with older flowers. Our plants came to us from Guernsey Clematis, the famous nursery founded by plantsman Raymond Evison.

There is considerable disagreement amongst experts regarding the legitimacy and characteristics of the various C. montana varieties; however there is no disagreement on the value of these beautiful climbers to horticulture. The species is generally hardy to Zone 6 or colder, floriferous, and needs no pruning or special treatment. Our plants have taken about 15 years to reach within a few metres of the tops of 25 m tall Thuja plicata (western red cedar). The clematis mode of climbing is well suited to thujas, whose branchlets are the optimal diameter for the twining petioles (and petiolules). Because the leaves and branches of thujas are long-lived, they're commonly retained near the ground for many years, and this makes starting a clematis up the tree relatively easy. It is important, however, to site the clematis (or any other climber) outside of the drip-line of a western red cedar, as thujas produce very heavy shade and are notoriously greedy when it comes to available water.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 9:00 AM| Comments (14)

June 11, 2009

Koeleria macrantha

I find that grasses can be very difficult to photograph. The breeze stopped for just a moment allowing me to snap this photo. I took the shot facing the early evening sun that shone through the flower spikes, causing them to glow in the image.

Tom Wheeler provides the description. He writes:

Koeleria macrantha, familiarly called June grass, is named after the German botanist Georg Koeler (1765-1807). About 15 species of plants bear his surname. Macrantha refers to this grass's comparatively large flowers. The species is circumpolar and widely distributed, inhabiting dry rocky or grassy slopes and forest openings in the steppe (prairies) to sub-alpine areas.

We grow this perennial bunch (tufted) grass in our Garry Oak Meadow Garden, first planted in May 2007. June grass grows 60 to 75cm (to the apex of the inflorescence) and does not aggressively self-sow. It is well regarded by our staff and visitors as a tidy grass with cylindrical, whitish green, spike-like panicles that arch when ripe. The seed provenance of our garden plantings is a Garry oak ecosystem on southeastern Vancouver Island. The first sowing in pots at our nursery yielded an emergence rate of 46%—moderately successful for a grass.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 9:55 AM| Comments (6)

June 10, 2009

Callistemon viminalis ‘Rose Opal’

Chungii V, a member of the UBC Botanical Garden Forums contributes today's photo and plant write-up. Chungii V writes about one of the beautiful native species of his home country, Australia. Thanks for shariing, Chungii V.

Hey All, See how this one goes and over the coming months I thought I might throw a few of our Natives from "Downunder" at you.

I decided to start with the Callistemon sp. because they are a pretty good example of a native flower. The name Callistemon when broken down means 'kallistos' - beautiful, and 'stemon' - stamen. Many of our flowers are very simple in design—a high arrangement of stamens with very insignificant petals. The inflorescence is made up of many small flowers carried closely together. I believe that this ensures continuity as they produce a large amount of seed giving some chance that at least one will germinate.

Callistemon are probably one of the more versatile plants, being able to grow in dry areas as well as they do in wet. They have adapted to different environments and grow to varying heights from dwarf shrubs no more than 1 m (3 ft.) high to small trees around 5 - 7 m in height. There are over 30 species of Callistemon recorded—occurring naturally in shrubby bushlands and also in wetter floodplains and along riverbeds mainly on the east coast of Australia. There are a couple of ‘PBR’ varieties, which means they have been copyrighted by the person who produced them. There is a nice colour range. Though most commonly red, they can also be found in shades of burgundy, white, green and pink. They attract much wildlife and are often used by councils in S.E. Queensland as street trees.

Picture is of Callistemon viminalis ‘Rose Opal’. I like this one as it opens a rosy red and fades to a nice pink. The individual flowers will last a good week or so.

References: Callistemon (Bottlebrushes) and Callistemon viminalis from the Australian National Botanic Gardens website.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 9:25 AM| Comments (15)

June 9, 2009

Mentzelia laevicaulis

Today's photo and article come from Tom Wheeler. Tom is a horticulturist working on the Garry Oak Meadow and Woodland project at UBCBG.

Mentzelia was named by Linnaeus in honour of Christian Mentzel (1622-1701), a German physician, botanist and lexicographer. The epithet laevicaulis (laevi = smooth + caulis = stalk) refers to the comparatively smooth stems of this species in comparison to other Mentzelia species.

To see Mentzelia laevicaulis, or blazing star, on gravelly cuts and slopes in BC's southern dry interior region is to revel an exquisitely different representative of the region's flora. This biennial or short-lived perennial is native to much of western North America from near sea level in the north to 2440 m (8000 ft.) in the southern parts of its range.

The fragrant, lemon yellow flowers can be up to 16 cm across, opening at mid-morning and remaining open past dusk and throughout the night. Carpenter bees and hawk moths are the blazing star's vespertine (evening) and nocturnal pollinators, and daytime opening enables other pollinators, including European honeybees, to visit, as well. When its flowers are open, their presence dominates the plant, but the short, barbed, hairy upper stems and branches give this species its other common name, stick-leaf, for its leaves and stems easily stick to clothing.

Mentzelia includes annuals, perennials, sub-shrubs and shrubs. The centre of diversity is southwestern North America, but the range of the genus extends to Argentina and Chile. California is home to more than half of the 50 species. While the family Loasaceae is well known for nasty plants with stinging hairs (e.g., Cevallia, the stinging serpent and Petalonyx, the sandpaper plant), the blazing stars are generally easily handled.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 9:00 AM| Comments (7)

June 5, 2009

Senna species

Douglas Justice brings us another photo and write-up from his recent trip to China. He writes:

I have a habit of photographing plants in flower in Botanical Gardens and promising myself that I'll look for the label the next time I go by the plant. Well, I walked by this plant at the South China Botanical Garden in Guangzhou, at least five times. I did do a very quick, cursory look for a label, which I couldn't locate, but I was in a hurry each time I passed it. I suppose I could have asked one of the staff or botanists (the place is rife with scientists), but I didn't. The plant might be Senna bicapsularis (L.) Roxb. (winter senna), but this identification is tentative. The shrub in the photograph is about 2 m tall and wide, the individual flowers some 3 or 4 cm across. I did not see any legumes (fruit).

Senna is a genus of about 250 subtropical and tropical shrubs, sub-shrubs, lianas and herbs. Few are cold hardy enough to cultivate in temperate conditions, but Michael Dirr mentions in his Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates (Timber Press) that S. bicapsularis overwinters (but dies to the ground in the cold) in his Georgia garden. Locally, Senna didymobotrya (popcorn plant) was a popular summer container plant for a few years. It is an attractive African species that requires frost-free conditions. It smells of buttered popcorn (really).

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:16 PM| Comments (10)

June 4, 2009

Rehderodendron macrocarpum

Douglas Justice writes today's entry.

The December 10, 2005 Botany Photo of the Day entry shows a bleached fruit of the rare Rehderodendron macrocarpum. The same tree is pictured in today's entry, this time as it's beginning to open its flowers. Eric's photograph was taken just after a rain shower, which explains the iridescent quality of the blooms. When fully open, the petals splay out to expose prominent anthers (these can be seen poking out of the rounded, barely open buds—more photos). The individual flowers are a huskier version of those of Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell), and like the snowbell, borne in ample clusters all along the undersides of the spreading branches. A tree in full flower is a wonderful sight and not soon forgotten. The Garden now has at least one other species in the collection, tentatively identified as Rehderodendron indochinense H. L. Li, and both species fill the air with their rich, lemony aroma when flowering.

Other than the lack of available seed, there seems little reason for the virtual exclusion of Rehderodendron from commercial horticulture. Unfortunately we have only the one tree of this species, and without cross pollination (i.e., a source of different pollen), viable seed is seldom produced. Like other plants in Styracaceae, siting in humus-rich, well-drained soil is essential for good growth and longevity. We know this species to be hardy to Zone 8.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 5:13 PM| Comments (10)

June 3, 2009

Salix species and Rhabdophaga rosaria

Today's images come to us from Suzan D. Suzan posted the photos for identification on the UBC Botanical Garden forums in 2004. She cleverly called these "woses." Original post.

Although the structure in the photo looks very much like a green rose, roses do not grow on willows. And while Suzan never found the insect, we believe this to be a gall caused by Rhabdophaga rosaria, the European rosette willow gall midge. Galls are abnormal growths found on plants that can be caused by parasites such as insects, mites, fungi or bacteria. Insects, particularly wasps and midges, are the most common cause of galls on plants. Plants form the galls in response to ovipositing or feeding by the insect, or from infection by another agent. The gall is an attempt to surround and isolate the invader. In the case of insects, the gall actually forms a protective chamber, where the larvae can develop safely away from predators.

Many types of galls exist. Many are shaped like balls or blisters. They are still unusual things to find in the garden, like this one from the UBCBG forums. In North America they are most commonly found on Fagaceae (oaks), but are also often found on Salicaceae (willows), Rosaceae (roses) and Asteraceae (asters). In general, they cause little damage to the plants and most are not considered to be significant pests.

Further reading on plant galls:

• Insect Galls, University of Florida Extension
• Gall-Making Insects - John A. Byers
• To Be Or Not To Be A Gall, Wayne's Word http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljuly99.htm

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:43 PM| Comments (20)

June 2, 2009

Daphne × susannae ‘Cheriton’

I photographed this lovely specimen at the font entrance here at UBC Botanical Garden in early May. This is one of my favourite plants in the garden. I have always been fond of fragrant plants, so daphnes are high on my list. ‘Cheriton’ is a proven performer. The evergreen shrub is reported to grow 30-45 cm tall and 60-90 cm wide. Our plant has spread to at least that size if not larger. The fragrance is strong and sweet.

Daphne is a genus of around 70 species, found primarily in Asia and Europe with a few species native to northern Africa. Daphnes are shrubs (or rarely small trees). They can be evergreen or deciduous. The berries are often very toxic and caution is advised when placing in the landscape, although the bitter taste should help keep the unwary from consuming the fruit.

Daphnes are often considered difficult to grow, but many, like the cultivar in this article are actually fairly trouble free. In fact, in the lower mainland of British Columbia and parts of northwestern USA, the European Daphne laureola has proven to be an invasive species. For further reading on the threat check out the fact sheets from the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team and Evergreen. (Note links are to PDF files, might open slowly.)

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:26 PM| Comments (8)

June 1, 2009

Claytonia perfoliata

Douglas Justice writes today's article.

Thanks to Marcela2 for today's image via the BPotD Flickr Group Pool (original image). Marcela2 writes (translated from the original Dutch ):

"The plant is frost resistant and as a result, in early spring an important source of vitamin C and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. In North America the plant was appreciated by both native Indians and the gold miners in California. For these people it was an important scurvy preventative in early spring, when they otherwise lacked a good source of vitamin C."

The genus is named in honour of John Clayton (1686-1773), who, according to William T. Stearn (Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners, 1972 ) "came to Virginia from England in 1705. He corresponded with the botanical great of the day—Linnaeus, Gronovius, Kalm, and John Bartram —as well as with Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Collinson, the English Quaker botanist, described him as the greatest botanist in America."

The epithet, perfoliata, undoubtedly refers to the leaves that subtend the inflorescences of this species. The base of a perfoliate leaf completely encircles the stem, as can be seen in the drawing here. However, keen observers will notice that the encircling leaves of miner's lettuce as pictured above do not resemble those in the drawing. Indeed, the inflorescence leaves of this species are not perfoliate at all, but actually paired leaves that encircle the stem because they are fused at their bases. Such leaves are termed connate.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 10:06 AM| Comments (19)

May 29, 2009

Rubus ellipticus var. obcordatus

Douglas Justice continues to share photos from his recent trip to China. He writes:

My recent trip to China seems like a bit of a dream now. A group of us toured southern Yunnan Province, primarily to observe magnolias in the wild; however, the attendant vegetation, both native and non-native, the agriculture and the landscape in general, were to me equally fascinating. I was particularly taken with the diversity of the many Rubus (bramble) species I saw. Delightful as they all were, we (at the Botanical Garden) long ago learned our lesson regarding exotic rubi. Many are extraordinarily opportunistic and potentially invasive. For example, we've been fighting the spread of Rubus simplex since its introduction here in 1982. It was innocently collected on a botanical expedition to Hubei and distributed to a number of gardens, but here, it is a potential menace and we've been careful to remove it whenever we see it.

This species, known as huang sou mei (golden lock berry) according to a Chinese speaker on staff here at UBC, is an attractive spreading shrub with distinctive leaves, and amber fruits reminiscent of Rubus spectabilis (salmon berry). The shrub photograph was taken (in a break between torrential downpours) by a roadside in the Fadou Nature Reserve in Xichou County (Wenshan Prefecture), and the basket of fruits some 250 km to the north in the market near the Stone Forest (south of Kunming). I am only sorry I did not taste them.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 2:34 PM| Comments (12)

May 28, 2009

Mussaenda pubescens

Today's photo and article come to us from Douglas Justice, Curator of Collections, UBCBG.

This sprawling evergreen shrub or climber is native to southern China. I've photographed a similar species (or perhaps the same one, but with orange flowers) in Washington DC, where it was cultivated as a summer bedding plant. Here, it is a background native plant in the Magnolia Collection at the South China Botanical Garden, in Guangzhou, China. You can also find it in the Medicinal Plants Area, Pu Gang Reserve, which is also part of this fantastic garden. According to the Dictionary of Chinese Traditional Medicine (1986), the plant has been used as a diuretic, antichloristic and antipyretic agent. It has also been employed against laryngopharyngitis, acute gastroenteritis and dysentery, and as a contraceptive.

The expanded, flag-like sepals are reminiscent of those borne on a number of familiar ornamentals, including hydrangeas, but more particularly, Schizophragma hydrangeoides. Such flag-like flower parts—at least the white ones—are adapted to increasing visibility for and hence, visitation by, moths, such as the magnificent Atlas moth, which is native to the same part of the world. The moths effect pollination and find a nectar "reward" at the base of the tubular flowers.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:49 PM| Comments (6)

May 27, 2009

Sempervivum arachnoideum subsp. tomentosum

This little gem is part of the Grace Rollerson Sempervivum Collection. It grows on the rock wall of the Alpine House in the Intermountain Habitat of the E.H. Lohbrunner Alpine Garden. It almost looks like it was snowing in the garden when the photo was taken, but the fibres we see are typical of Sempervivum arachnoideum, the cobweb houseleek.

Sempervivum species grow naturally from northern Africa to western Asia. The succulent plants are widely cultivated and common in North American gardens. Sempervivum arachnoideum is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe and subsp. tomentosum is primarily found in the southwest of the species' range. Sempervivum species are commonly called "hens and chicks" for their habit of setting small rosette offshoots that surround the larger mother plant. This species sets offshoots that match the size of the mother plant, forming a group of more or less equal sized rosettes.

For a little more info on the plant, Paghat writes an interesting description and gives good advice for growing cobweb houseleek. And Cal's Plant of the Week has a nice fact sheet.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 1:42 PM| Comments (6)

May 26, 2009

Ceiba speciosa

The floss silk tree is native to South America. It is sometimes called kapok, but that name more correctly refers to Ceiba pentandra. Like kapok, the fibre from the fruit of Ceiba speciosa is also sometimes used for packing materials, but the fibres are short and not suitable for weaving.

The Buenos Aires street tree in the second image shows the strange spikes on the trunk. These are poorly understood, but according to the Wikipedia article they hold water for dry periods. Young trees have chlorophyll in the bark, giving the tree the ability to photosynthesize when leaves are absent. The trunk has a bottle shape and often leans. I have not found the reference, but would guess that this is the origin of the Spanish common name, palo borracho (drunken tree).

Ceiba speciosa puts forth quite a show when it blooms and is used as an ornamental tree in warm climates. The University of Florida Extension has a good fact sheet about the tree (and shows the flowers, which were not present during my visit in Argentina.) Be sure to check out the flower and fruit pictures at the bottom of the page.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 4:48 PM| Comments (20)

May 25, 2009

Morella rubra

Douglas Justice, Curator of Collections, at UBC Botanical Garden contributed today's BPotD entry.

On a recent trip to China with a group of westerners, we came upon these fruits, and initially assumed they were from Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree). Indeed, a number of us had seen tinned versions of these fruits labeled “arbustes,” a name that looks a lot like Arbutus, but is, of course, "shrub" in French. Complicating matters—or perhaps the origin of this confusion—is the common name Chinese strawberry tree. Why tinned fruit from China would be labeled with a French name is another matter. It's uncanny (pardon the pun) that these two fruits should look so similar.

Morella rubra (more commonly known as Myrica rubra) is native to much of temperate and tropical Southeast Asia, where (according to the Wikipedia entry) the species has been cultivated for a couple of millennia. I can certainly see why. They are tart and delicious. There's no mistaking the two. The large pit in red bayberry fruits takes up about two-thirds of the overall volume, while the gritty seeds in Arbutus are small and numerous. As for taste, the mushy, insipid (some people I know refer to it as "delicate") tasting cornels produced by Arbutus unedo are no match for the meaty zing of the bayberry.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 12:50 PM| Comments (17)

May 22, 2009

Phytolacca dioica

Not exactly the usual beautiful photo from BPotD today, but a very interesting plant. The first image is in the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden, the second image showing the flower buds was taken in a Buenos Aires park.

Posts often appear on the UBC Botanical Garden forums from people seeking identification for plants that have appeared in people's gardens—like this or this (remember the song?). One of the most common ID requests is for Phytolacca americana, poke weed—the plant in the two cited posts. Its striking purple berries and rapid growth get it noticed. Gardeners, unfamiliar with the plant are often quite surprised and a little wary of this invader that seems to grow to a metre or more in a very short time.

The South American relative, Phytolacca dioica is also quick growing, but grows to the size of trees, to almost 20 metres. The wood is very soft and the plant often forms a large swollen base with multiple trunks. The evergreen foliage forms a large canopy, which provides shade for the gauchos on the pampas. Toxins in the plant protect it from grazers and pests.

There are some great webpages describing this huge "poke weed". Wayne's Word offers good info on both Phytolacca dioica and P. americana. Blue Planet Biomes has a nice, descriptive article, Ombu.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 11:49 PM| Comments (24)

May 21, 2009

Leptospermum rotundifolium ‘Manning’s Choice’

Today's photos were contributed by J.G. in S.F. via the UBCBG Botany Photo of the Day Group Pool. Thanks J.G., all the photos are great—the single flower close up is exquisite.

Leptospermum is a genus of around 80 species. Most are endemic to Australia, but one species is found in New Zealand and two are found in Malaysia. Early Australian settlers made tea from several species of Leptospermum, which led to the common name, tea tree. (Although Leptospermum species have antibacterial and antifungal properties, they are not to be confused with the currently popular tee tree oil, which comes from Melaleuca alternifolia.)

Leptospermums are evergreen shrubs or trees and make good landscape plants in warm areas. Leptospermum rotundifolium was previoulsy featured on BPotD. The round-leaved tea tree is noted among the genus for its exceptionally large showy flowers. The cultivar in today's photo, ‘Manning’s Choice’ certainly illustrates this. ‘Manning’s Choice’ reaches a height of around 1.8 metres and blooms much of the year, peaking in the Spring.

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 5:00 PM| Comments (14)

May 8, 2009

Balsamorhiza sagittata

Today's photograph was taken last weekend near Merritt, British Columbia. It was an unexpected find, as much of the hillsides were covered in dead vegetation from last year. In most places, small carpets of a tiny Ranunculus were in bloom -- this is the earliest flowering plant in the area, and typically a sign that not much else would be found anywhere. However, additional backroads exploration eventually revealed a few Fritillaria pudica and Claytonia -- and I would have been satisfied with just finding those, given the conditions. My friend Chris and I had almost decided to turn back when he suggested continuing along the road to see the next open vista. There, we found not only a good view, but south-facing slopes with Fritillaria pudica blooming en masse, the first few Balsamorhiza sagittata in bloom, and Delphinium nuttallianum a few days from blooming -- a small micro-climate easily two to three weeks in advance of other similar areas.

Arrowleaf balsamroot is native to much of western North America (east of the Coast-Cascades-Sierras), reaching its eastern extent in South Dakota. The Flora of North America provides a scientific treatment of Balsamorhiza sagittata, and notes that it is versatile in its habitats: "Openings, banks, flats, meadows, ridges, sagebrush scrub, [and] conifer forests". Thayne Tuason's Flora of the Inland Pacific Northwest has a more approachable summary of this species: Balsamorhiza sagittata. I'd be remiss to not point you in the direction of the Burke Museum's entry on Balsamorhiza sagittata as well, particularly for its excellent compilation of images: arrowleaf balsamroot.

Lastly, I'm sad to inform you that I'm going to be on leave for the next three months. Due to the short notice regarding my leave, the decisions and mechanics of how to keep BPotD running in the interim are presently being considered.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 5:00 PM| Comments (53)

May 7, 2009

Lechenaultia tubiflora

...and another new contributor to Botany Photo of the Day today: Andy_1968@Flickr shares photographs from Western Australia. Thank you for sharing these two images of Lechenaultia tubiflora via the UBC BG Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool (original 1 | original 2). Much appreciated to see other species in the genus Lechenaultia, which Ron Long introduced us to in this entry: Lechenaultia macrantha.

Andy_1968 also shared the following description: "Heath lechenaultia is a low (0.05 - 0.3 m tall) [rarely to 70cm] shrub. The shrub is relatively non-descript until it flowers and then is a mass of red (or white to green) tubular flowers. This particular specimen was found in the Dongolocking area [of Western Australia] growing by the side of a road." The Flora of Western Australia's entry for Lechenaultia tubiflora notes that this is a species of sandplains and sand dunes, where the sandy soil may cover a base of granite or limestone.

William Archer's Esperance Blog (about the flora and fauna near Esperance) has an excellent entry on four species of Lechenaultia. Scroll down the page a little to see William's photographs of the flower colour variations in Lechenaultia tubiflora mentioned by Andy_1968, including a bi-coloured red and cream example.

The genus Lechenaultia was named in honour of the French botanist and ornithologist Jean Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour, who accompanied Baudin on a French expedition to map the coast of Australia between 1800 and 1803.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 1:36 PM| Comments (5)

May 6, 2009

Brassica napus [Napus Group]

A new contributor to Botany Photo of the Day: Marrakech99@Flickr, from Jena, Germany. Thanks to you for submitting these photographs via the UBC BG Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool | original 1 | original 2). Cheers!

I grew up on a farm in Manitoba. The memory is vague, but I do recall that many local farmers who once grew rapeseed (the plants in today's photographs) had switched to canola ("Canadian oil, low acid"). I doubt that there is any way to tell these two closely-related crops apart through these photographs, so I'll assume this is the higher-acid content rapeseed. In any case, fields of Brassica napus [Napus Group] are welcome sights to me because of the intense yellow (the downwind smell, however, I find mildly offensive).

Despite the use in food production, the unprocessed seeds of rapeseed have some measure of toxicity, due in part to the high erucic acid content This is, of course, not the case with canola (see previous link). Purdue University's Center for New Crops & Plants Products 1983 Handbook on Energy Crops has extensive detail about the use, chemistry, description and cultivation of Brassica napus.

Any entry on rapeseed or canola would not be complete without mention of the controversies surrounding genetic engineering. There are no end to discussions about this on the web, but I'll point you to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research's GMO Safety page on GM oilseed rape (yet another common name) as a starting point.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 4:25 PM| Comments (19)

May 5, 2009

Polylepis sp.

Thank you to Beth aka lorax@UBC Botanical Garden forums for sharing today's photographs via the BPotD submissions forum. Beth's weblog is I Speak for the Trees, and I see that she's also involved with the International Banana Society (very cool!).

Beth also wrote a fine accompaniment to these photographs, so I'm going to step aside for this entry. Beth writes:

This is a lone Polylepis tree growing by the highway at about 4,800 meters of elevation in the Kiss the Sky portion of Ecuador's Papallacta pass (the highest road pass in the world). Polylepis are members of the rose family, and are only found at extremely high altitudes in the Andean mountains, typically above the line where other trees stop growing; stands of these trees cover portions of the paramo past 5,000 meters of elevation in the pass where this specimen was photographed. There are about 28 species of Polylepis, distributed from Colombia south to Argentina, with the highest rate of endemism found in Ecuador and Bolivia. The trees are easily recognized by their papery, peeling red bark and minute pinnate leaves, and when they bloom the forest canopy turns gold. The trees in these photos are likely Polylepis australis, but the high rate of endemism and the similarities between species makes identification difficult without flowers.

Polylepis is also one of the most threatened trees in the Andean highlands, as it is often harvested for firewood by the peoples living in these passes (and has been since before Incan times). Scientists believe that the almost the entire paramo biome above the normal treeline was once covered in dense Polylepis forest, and human intervention is what has reduced it to smaller pockets. In Ecuador, this has led to the tree becoming a protected species, and it is now a federal crime to cut Polylepis unless it threatens a dwelling. The largest stand of Polylepis in Ecuador is contained within the highland portion of the Cayambe-Coca Biological Reserve; these trees are estimated to be several thousand years old.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:12 AM| Comments (12)

May 1, 2009

Orobanche uniflora

Given the delayed spring we've had locally, Orobanche uniflora ought to be in bloom this weekend at the Tom McCall Preserve near Rowena, Oregon (where this photograph was taken two years and a few days ago). I've scanned the ground for these low growers (to 15cm tall) the past two weekends in local areas, but no luck for me this year.

Orobanche uniflora, or naked broomrape (or one-flowered broomrape or one-flowered cancer-root), is distributed throughout much of North America north of Mexico with the exception of Manitoba, Labrador, and Canada's central northern territories (the species is also found in Baja California). There seems to be much morphological variation within the species -- for example, both Missouriplants.com and the Connecticut Botanical Society display images of white-flowered versions of this species.

A number of references note that this parasitic species saps nutrients from plants in the Saxifragaceae, Asteraceae and the genus Sedum. I don't recall seeing Sedum or any saxifrages at this location, so I suspect in this case it was parasitizing Balsamorhiza. In the few occasions I've chanced upon this species, I've noted it to grow in areas of springtime wet followed by summertime dry, to the point where it could be considered a spring ephemeral. When Brent Hine and I returned to this location in mid-summer of the same year, there was no evidence of Orobanche uniflora to be found and the vegetation nearby was "crispy" from the summer heat. Given its broad distribution, however, I suspect that these particular conditions are not always the case.

Vascular Plants of Henry Coe State Park in California has a few more photographs: Orobanche uniflora.

Photography resource link: Not plant-related, but I suspect you'll enjoy the dendritic forms: Tom O. Scott's Sand Vision in Color (discovered via Richard Wong's Field Report weblog).

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 10:54 AM| Comments (9)

April 30, 2009

Petrophile biloba

Another thank you is in order to J.G. in S.F.@Flickr for sending along these photographs from the San Francisco Botanical Garden (via the UBC BG Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool | original 1 | original 2).

Petrophile, as you might guess, translates into "rock-loving". This is indeed the case for this relatively short shrubby plants, as they are found in coastal sandy areas, rocky outcrops and inland gravelly areas (though never too far from the coast, perhaps 150km). Common name for plants in the genus used by people in eastern Australia include conesticks, coneflower and conebush. However, in western Australia (the centre of diversity for the genus), these common names aren't used and it seems they are simply referred to as petrophile.

Petrophile biloba, or granite petrophile, is native to a small area of southwestern Western Australia, near Perth. As noted by FloraBase, this species of hillsides and granite outcrops grows to 2m high. The Australian Native Plant Society provides cultivation and propagation information on it: Petrophile biloba.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 2:51 PM| Comments (18)

April 29, 2009

Nassauvia lagascae

Thank you to Douglas Justice for today's write-up.

Another wonderful photograph by Alan Tracey from his recent peregrinations in the southern Andes. Nassauvia Comm. ex Juss. is a southern south American endemic genus of about 50 shrubs and herbs, allied to the genus Mutisia (the climbing daisies). Local peoples refer to plants of the genus as repollito, meaning little cabbage sprout. The individual species of Nassauvia are differentiated in part by, and notable for, the degree of reduction displayed by flowers, inflorescences, leaves and stems. In the genus, the higher the elevation and more extreme the conditions, the more reduced (compact) are the plants. This is a general rule in alpines; however, as you can see from the image here, these are not typical looking "compact" alpine plants. The vocabulary describing this reduction series is somewhat arcane, but for the adventurous, this link opens to the abstract of "A typological analysis of the inflorescences of the genus Nassauvia (Asteraceae)" (the full article is unfortunately unavailable to most viewers).

The genus name honours Charles Orthon, Prince de Nassau-Siegen (1745-1809), who accompanied Louis Antoine Bougainville on the first official French circumnavigation of the globe (1766 to 1769). Bougainville had been charged with officially handing over the Falkland Islands to the Spanish. This is probably the connection with the plants we know as Nassauvia, as at least one species is found in the Falklands. The epithet commemorates the Spanish botanist Marianio La Gasca y Segura (1776 to 1839).

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:01 AM| Comments (16)

April 28, 2009

Senna artemisioides subsp. artemisioides

Thank you to DarinAz@Flickr for sharing one of his excellent photographs (contributed via the UBC BG Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool | original). Appreciated once again! If you love plants, I do recommend visiting Darin's photograph sets on Flickr -- there's much to enjoy.

Silver senna or feathery senna is endemic to much of mainland arid Australia, with the exception of the state of Victoria. It seems to have naturalized in both Arizona and California. Previously thought to be a member of the genus Cassia, its former scientific name and related common names (e.g., silver cassia or feathery cassia) still persist in many online references.

The Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) recognizes seven subspecies and three nothosubspecies, or naturally-occurring hybrid subspecies. I'm somewhat confused as the Wikipedia page for Senna artemisioides mentions both a subspecies artemisioides and a hybrid subspecies artemisioides, whereas GRIN only recognizes the latter. What I'm not confused by, though, is the fact that there seems to be much taxonomic work to be done with Senna artemisioides and all of its subtaxa. It seems to me that this is one of those instances whereby the process of presently-occurring speciation is denying taxonomists the ability to sort everything into little boxes.

If you are interested in growing this plant, the Master Gardeners of the University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension provide this growing guide. FloraBase, the Flora of Western Australia, provides a few more photographs of Senna artemisioides.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 1:12 PM| Comments (9)

April 27, 2009

Rhododendron austrinum and Rhododendron flammeum

Thanks again to Earl Blackstock for submitting photographs of some of the native azaleas of the eastern USA. The first photograph -- Rhododendron austrinum -- was taken by Earl's granddaughter Libby on April 20. The other image, Rhododendron flammeum, was taken in the past few days. A couple years ago, Earl submitted a photograph of a related azalea, Rhododendron periclymenoides.

Both of today's azaleas and the one submitted a couple years ago are deciduous azaleas and hence members of the section Pentanthera (one of eight sections within the genus Rhododendron). Rhododendron austrinum, or the Florida azalea, is native to Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. Oconee azalea (Rhododendron flammeum) is found in one fewer state and slightly further northeast: Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

The late Hal Bruce, former plant taxonomist at Winterthur Gardens, wrote extensively about deciduous azaleas in this article for the Quarterly Bulletin of the American Rhododendron Society: "Deciduous Azaleas at Winterthur". For more information, and particularly photographs, you'll also want to visit David Royster's Virtual Rhododendron Garden (see: Native & Deciduous Azaleas of the Piedmont). The photographs on Royster's site also show part of the range of flower colour variation within these species. For growing information and more, Earl has suggested Henning's Rhododendron and Azalea Pages.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 12:34 PM| Comments (11)

April 24, 2009

Erythronium oregonum

I apologize for the lack of a photograph yesterday, but I had student projects to evaluate for end-of-term during the day and then attended the successful Collectors' Plant Auction last night.

Today's photograph is shared by a UBC horticulturist Mathew Vis-Dunbar, who also attended the Native Plant Society of BC's field trip to Galiano last weekend. I am hoping that someone took a photo of Mathew while he was photographing this group of flowers from ground-level.

Erythronium oregonum joins what is now a respectable series of fawn-lilies on BPotD: Erythronium grandiflorum, Erythronium revolutum, Erythronium americanum and Erythronium montanum. These five species represent approximately a fifth of the recognized species of Erythronium. As its epithet implies, giant white fawn-lily (or deer's tongue) is a native to the west coast of North America, specifically British Columbia, Washington and Oregon (and, depending on interpretation of the species, California) west of the Cascade Mountains. Its common name of deer's tongue is due to its oft-mottled foliage, photographs of which can be seen on the Erythronium oregonum page via the Burke Museum.

We encountered this species in multiple locations on Galiano. The best location was Bellhouse Provincial Park (and the road leading to it), where the plants could be found en masse in populations of a few hundred. To my eye, plants growing in shadier and moister conditions seemed a bit more robust than those exposed to more sunlight and drier substrates.

The Flora of North America has a technical description of Erythronium oregonum while the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre has some horticultural information on giant white fawn-lily.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 10:26 AM| Comments (16)

April 22, 2009

Dendrocalamus sp. (tentative)

Ruth is responsible for today's entry. Ruth writes:

My mother, Melinde Sanborn, took this stunning shot of a beached monocot species. Thanks mom!

Although we are not certain of its identity, we believe this to be a species of Dendrocalamus. The pachymorph rhizomes combined with large culms are the best clues. Dendrocalamus is a genus of giant clumping bamboo native to Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It's not uncommon to find members of this genus cultivated in Hawaii, Central America or the West Indies, where different species are variously used for buckets, rafts, edible shoots, construction or charcoal. It is also cultivated as an ornamental in mild parts of North America: Quail Botanical Gardens of Encinitas, California has a few species in their collection. As Dendrocalamus are a clumping type of bamboo, they are less of a nightmare (just less) in the garden. Due to their size, they are not recommended for a small to medium spaces unless regular maintenance is possible.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 8:00 AM| Comments (7)

April 21, 2009

Linum lewisii var. lewisii

It's been a while since we've had a species from a vascular plant family not previously featured on Botany Photo of the Day, so I'm grateful to Josh aka gravitywave@Flickr for sharing this photograph of a member of the Linaceae, or the flax family (submitted via the UBC BG Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool | original). Thank you!

The Linaceae are divided into two broad groups: the Linoideae (such as today's Linum), which are herbs (or rarely shrubs) with a worldwide distribution, and the Hugonioideae, which are tropical woody plants (and often climbers).

The genus Linum is estimated to have roughly two hundred species. These are native to north temperate and subtropical regions, with an abundance of species around the Mediterranean. In North America, native Linum can be found in all states, provinces and territories. Linum lewisii var. lewisii, commonly known as Lewis' flax or prairie flax, is native to much of western and central North America, as well as northern Mexico.

The Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago has a scientific description of Linum lewisii, as well as additional photographs at the bottom of the page. CalPhotos also has an assortment of images: Linum lewisii.

The flax of cultivation for linseed oil and fibres is Linum usitatissimum.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 9:43 AM| Comments (7)

April 20, 2009

Lithophragma parviflorum

Today's photograph is from Galiano Island. On Saturday, I went on the Native Plant Society of BC's field trip to the island's Bluff Park and Bellhouse Provincial Park in search of wildflowers and other interesting plants. In all, our list of identified plants in bloom neared thirty, including this one, Lithophragma parviflorum.

Smallflower woodland-star is a member of the saxifrage family. Its genus, Lithophragma, is exclusively distributed in western North America. Nine (to 12) species are recognized, with the centre of diversity in California. Only three species are found outside of California and Oregon: Lithophragma glabrum, Lithophragma tenellum, and Lithophragma parviflorum. These three can be found throughout western North America. Calphotos provides photographs of most species within the genus.

The Jepson Manual provides a description of Lithophragma parviflorum, as does Montana Plant Life: Lithophragma parviflorum. I'm partial to the species because it grows in a broad range of habitats (e.g., sagebrush desert, open forests, prairies) and it is like seeing a cheery old friend when visiting somewhere new on my travels in the west.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 10:09 AM| Comments (11)

April 17, 2009

Vinca major

Today's photograph is shared with us by Wayne Weber@Flickr via the UBCBG Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Group Pool (original). Thank you!

Greater periwinkle is native to the Mediterranean, but has naturalized in places such as British Columbia, milder areas of the United States and Australia. Despite its utility as a shady groundcover, it is not recommended for use in many areas due to invasiveness. The California Invasive Plant Council rates it as "moderate", and this species also finds its way into the Global Invasive Species Database: Vinca major. This latter site provides this brief description of the species: "Vinca major is introduced to new locations usually as an ornamental or medicinal herb. It spreads locally from dumped garden waste, plant fragments carried downstream and as a garden escape along shady corridors. It grows most vigorously in moist shady areas in forests, along streams and urban areas. Once established the herb competes with native vegetation by smothering all native groundcover vegetation and preventing the regeneration of trees and shrubs. Vinca major is a serious threat to the understorey of forested areas and streamside vegetation."

The Plants for a Future database provides a list of traditional medicinal uses. MissouriPlants.com has additional photographs and a description of the plant, as well as a brief argument for the use of scientific names: Vinca major.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:00 AM| Comments (23)

April 16, 2009

Adesmia longipes

Thank you to Douglas Justice for today's write-up. Douglas writes:

Thanks to Alan Tracey for these photographs from his recent trip to Chile.

Adesmia is a genus of about 230 herbaceous and shrubby species native to the montane and alpine regions of South America. They have pinnately compound leaves, legumes covered with shaggy red hairs and classic papilionaceous flowers.

The classic pea flower is composed of a broad, upright "banner" or "standard" petal, two side, "wing" petals and two lower petals partially fused together to form a "keel". The keel encloses the stamens, which normally form a tube for part of their length (they are free in Adesmia) and surround the ovary and lower part of the style. The five petals are inserted inside the cup-shaped base of the calyx. Pollinators (probably bees in this case) are attracted to the nectar that forms in the cup at the base of the petals. To reach the nectar, they must stand on the keel, which deflects and splits open under the insect's weight (but only when the anthers are ripe), tripping the stamens to fly up and deposit pollen on the insect's body. Once the mechanism is tripped, the style, which is bundled with the stamens, is also forced into position to be brushed by foraging insects. However, peas are protandrous (proto = first + andro = male) and the female parts do not become receptive until after pollen is shed. Protandry, which is typical of bee-pollinated flowers, helps prevent self-pollination. Pollination takes place once the stigma (the pollen receptive surface at the tip of the style) is ripe, presuming the visiting insect is arriving already dusted with pollen from another flower.

Adesmia longipes grows to about 10 cm tall in mid- to upper-montane areas of south central Chile (and is also found in Argentina). Plants are herbaceous and winter deciduous. The name Adesmia (a = without + desmos = a bond) refers to the stamens, which are not fused, as is the normal condition in this subfamily (Faboideae) and the specific epithet longipes means "long-stalked" (presumably in reference to the flower stems). The common name, pasto de guanaco, means "fodder of the guanaco". The guanaco is a small llama relative native to the Altiplano of South America.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 1:00 PM| Comments (10)

April 15, 2009

Paxistima myrsinites

...and another thank you to Jackie Chambers for sharing both today's photograph and write-up. Jackie writes:

Paxistima myrsinites is currently flowering in UBC Botanical Garden's Native Garden. Although they may not be the showiest of spring flowers, those fascinated by detail will appreciate these very tiny maroon flowers, just 3-4 mm wide. The flowers, each with four petals and four stamens, are held in clusters in the leaf axils along the branches. It is interesting to note that the structure of these flowers is very similar to other members of the family. You can use Flowering Plant Families from the University of Hawaii to compare the flowers of other Celastraceae and observe these similarities.

The thick, leathery leaves of Paxistima myrsinites are oppositely-arranged along the stem. Oval in shape with toothed margins, the leaves can be 1-3cm long. For more photos of this species, see Paxistima myrsinites via VirginiaTech.

False box, or mountain boxwood as it is sometimes called, is an evergreen shrub ranges in height from 20-80cm tall, and can have an erect or prostrate growth habit. Its reddish-brown branches may be either smooth or ridged.

Paxistima myrsinites is native to the coniferous forests and dry mountain slopes of British Columbia. Its native range extends south along the west coast into California and northern Mexico. For more information and a map of its BC distribution see E-Flora BC: Paxistima myrsinites.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 9:00 AM| Comments (3)

April 14, 2009

Cyclopia pubescens

Thanks again to buildingadesert@Flickr, aka Claire W., for contributing an image to Botany Photo of the Day (via the BPotD Flickr Pool (original image)).

Cyclopia pubescens is a small shrub native to the Cape Province of South Africa. It belongs to a closely-related group of plants collectively known as the honeybush teas (see profile of Cyclopia genistoides on PlantzAfrica).

There is little information specifically about Cyclopia pubescens on the web, unless one does a little digging and discovers this 2008 thesis by Nicole Du Toit: Molecular phylogenetics of Cyclopia Vent.and its position within Podalyrieae (Fabaceae). Included within this thesis are photographs of Cyclopia species, including Cyclopia pubescens (PDF) and habit and geographical distribution information (PDF). This latter reference reveals that Cyclopia pubescens is "A rare and highly localized species that has only been recorded from the foot of the Vanstadens River Mountain west of Port Elizabeth, growing in marshy areas."

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 2:18 PM| Comments (10)

April 10, 2009

Ananas comosus

The Tropical Food Plants Conservatory at Montréal Botanical Garden is newly-renovated, and is one of the highlights of a visit to the many MBG glasshouses. Most of the other glasshouses had plant displays with little interpretation. By contrast, the Tropical Food Plants Conservatory had an excellent mix of plants, interpretative signage, and accompanying displays. Well worth the visit!

Pineapple was previously featured on BPotD a few years ago: Ananas comosus (worth revisiting for an interesting link about "pressure and the keratolytic effect of bromelain").

Wild relatives of the pineapple are native to southern Brazil and Paraguay. It was cultivated and spread throughout South and Central America by indigenous peoples prior to European arrival. Within 150 years, it was introduced into cultivation in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world as the fruit was valuable in the prevention of scurvy.

Cal's Plant of the Week featured Ananas comosus in March of 2001, and it includes a photograph of a plant in flower (you may want to compare that flowering bromeliad with Tillandsia lindenii from a few days ago).

Wikipedia has a fairly detailed account on pineapples with a good set of references for additional reading.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:38 AM| Comments (9)

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About Botany Photo of the Day

Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.