Centre For Ecology’s Post

The Botanical Description of Prunus fremontii 1. Plant Type: Prunus fremontii, commonly known as Desert Apricot or Fremont's Apricot, is a deciduous shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Rosaceae family. 2. Size: This plant typically reaches a height of 6 to 20 feet (2 to 6 meters) and has a similar spread. The size can vary depending on environmental conditions and available water. 3. #NaturesPharmacy

Last week, I had an amble through the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London.  Notwithstanding the amazing collection of plants, it is perhaps the scientific research that takes place at Kew Gardens that is most impressive to me. Last week, I learned something new about lime trees, bees and caffeine!  Lime trees are commonly planted in cities in the UK as they are known to be relatively tolerant of pollution and attractive to insects and humans - with the scent of lime blossom being one of the delights of early summer.  However, some species, notably silver lime Tilia tomentosa (native to south-eastern Europe and Turkey, and an ornamental in the UK), are often associated with the deaths of bees, especially bumble bees. Such effects are of course not unique; toxins in nectar are one of the means by which plants can filter out insects that are poor at pollinating their flowers, saving their nectar for those species which are more effective pollinators and thus more beneficial to the plant.   Turning to limes, many sources attributed bee deaths to a sugar (mannose) in the nectar which "intoxicates and can kill" bees. When research indicated that the nectar did not contain mannose, insecticides were considered. However, since bee deaths have been recorded back to Medieval times, insecticides were unlikely to be the cause. Mysteriously, recent research has indicated nothing that could be toxic to bees in lime nectar. The current theory is that "chemical deception" leads to starvation; essentially that the bees are attracted by volatile chemicals in the flowers, even towards the end of the flowering period when there is little or no nectar left, and so the bees starve. Since there are typically plenty of other local nectar sources available when the lime is flowering, there is a sense that there must something strongly attractive in the flowers that prevents the bees from switching to other sources of nectar. Could this be caffeine? A recent experiment at RBG Kew found some evidence to suggest that caffeine changes the foraging habits of bees, enticing them to stay around lime trees even where there is little or no nectar left. So, when you are having your morning coffee tomorrow, consider the plight of the bees! #LimeTrees #Bees #Caffeine #Tiliatomentosa #SilverLime #SilverLinden Image from https://lnkd.in/ewCnpFzq

𝗦𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 ( 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮 ) “ Sarcodes is the monotypic genus of a north-west American flowering springtime plant in the heath family (Ericaceae), containing the single species Sarcodes sanguinea, commonly called the snow plant or snow flower. It is a parasitic plant that derives sustenance and nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that attach to tree roots. Lacking chlorophyll, it is unable to photosynthesize. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbioses involve a mutualism between a plant root and a fungus; the plant provides fixed carbon to the fungus and in return, the fungus provides mineral nutrients, water, and protection from pathogens to the plant. The snow plant takes advantage of this mutualism by tapping into the network and stealing sugars from the photosynthetic partner by way of the fungus. This is known as mycoheterotrophy. The snow plant is host-specific and can only form relationships with the ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycete Rhizopogon ellenae. The plant's aboveground tissue is its inflorescence, a raceme of bright scarlet red flowers wrapped in many strap-like, pointed bracts with fringed edges, themselves bright red to orange in color. S. sanguinea is native to montane areas of the California Floristic Province, from the Oregon Cascade Range (as far north as the Umpqua River), through the mountains of California including the Transverse Ranges (though it is absent from the California Coast Ranges between the Klamath Mountains), and into the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir range of northern Baja California. Its species epithet sanguinea refers to the striking red flower that emerges from the sometimes still snow-covered ground in early spring or summer; this may be as late as July in high elevations, such as those of the High Sierra Nevada and Cascades. The genus epithet Sarcodes comes from the Greek sarkódes (σαρκώδες), meaning "fleshy". According to botanist James L. Reveal, S. sanguinea is edible, if cooked. “ ~ wiki 📷 @photographyfaust @sanjoaquintws 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂! ⍗ https://lnkd.in/guYFaFha #flowerfriday #flowerfridays #Sarcodessanguinea #snowflower#snowflowers #snowplant #snowplants #redflower #redflowers #flowersflowersflowers #flowersmakepeoplehappy #flowerlovers #flowerlove #floweroftheday #dailyblooms #flowerpower #plantapp #plantsnap

𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘄 (𝗗𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗲) 📸 @sundews_etc ( ig ) “ Drosera aliciae, the Alice sundew, is a carnivorous plant in the family Droseraceae. It is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa,like Drosera capensis, the cape sundew, and is one of the most common sundews in cultivation. The plant forms small, tight rosettes of wedge-shaped leaves, up to 5 cm in diameter. Under conditions of good lighting, the insect-snagging tentacles will become deeply coloured with anthocyanin pigments, which probably aid in its attraction of insect prey. The plant is relatively easy to grow, and produces attractive scapes of pink flowers, which are held about 30 cm away from the carnivorous leaves, so as to prevent pollinators from becoming ensnared. D. aliciae is very similar in form to a number of other closely related species such as D. slackii, and D. dielsiana: the former is rather larger (8 cm diameter); the latter rather smaller (3 cm diameter). “ - Wikipedia “Drosera spp. are entirely reliant on bogs, fens, and other delicate wetland ecosystems; this makes their habitat incredibly sensitive and steadily shrinking. Though efforts are being made to preserve the wetlands in most parts of the U.S., much more work must be done to preserve their habitats. The roots, flowers, and seed capsules are frequently used in tea to treat breathing issues and break up chest congestion. Naphthoquinones are what gives the plant its antispasmodic effects.” - united plant savers Drosera aliciae has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂! ⍗ www.plantsnap.com ⍗ #Droseraaliciae #sundew #sundews #sundewplant #drosera #alicesundew #droseraaliciae #carniverousplant #carniverousplants #plantoftheday #plantlovers #royalhorticulturalsociety #atriskplants #plantsnap

Assessing the effects of native plants on the pollination of an exotic herb, the blueweed Echium vulgare Boraginaceae https://t.co/w4f8HStHmw #EurekaMag

Orchids are fascinating plants, with each plant producing millions of seeds the size of a speck of dust. There are 25,000 species of orchid worldwide, the most variety of any plant family, representing 10 percent of all plant species on Earth. That said, their reproductive habits are intricate, and require strange relationships with the fungi in soil to thrive. Orchid seeds rely on consuming different kinds of fungi to provide them with nutrients to actually sprout leaves, which is unique among plants. Most species need a specific species of fungi to actually sprout, which is one reason that the plants themselves produce millions of seeds so as to give them the best chance to accidentally land on the right kind of fungal dinner.

𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗲𝘀 ( 𝗢𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗺 ) 📷 @esthers_eyes “ Osteospermum is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower/daisy family Asteraceae. They are known as the daisy bushes or African daisies. The scientific name is derived from the Greek osteon (bone) and Latin spermum (seed). It has been given several common names: African daisy, South African daisy, Cape daisy and blue-eyed daisy. The daisy-like composite flower consists of disc florets and ray florets, growing singly at the end of branches or sometimes in inflorescences of terminal corymbose cymes. The disc florets are pseudo-bisexual and come in several colors such as blue, yellow and purple. The hardy types usually show a dark blue center in the disc until the yellow pollen is shed. The ray florets are female and are found diverse colors such as white, cream, pink, purple, mauve to yellow. Many species flower a second time late summer, stimulated by the cooler night temperatures. Hardy types show profuse flowering in the spring, but they do not get a second flush of flowers. There are about 70 species native to southern and eastern Africa and the Arabian peninsula. Osteospermum are popular in cultivation, where they are frequently used in summer bedding schemes in parks and gardens. Numerous hybrids and cultivars have been grown with a wide range of tropical colors. Plants prefer a warm and sunny position and rich soil, although they tolerate poor soil, salt or drought well. Modern cultivars flower continuously when watered and fertilised well, and dead-heading is not necessary, because they do not set seed easily. If planted in a container, soil should be prevented from drying out completely. If they do, the plants will go into "sleep mode" and survive the period of drought, but they will abort their flower buds and not easily come back into flower. Moreover, roots are relatively susceptible to rotting if watered too profusely after the dry period. “ wiki 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗶 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂! ⍗ https://lnkd.in/guYFaFha #africandaisies #africandaisy #Osteospermum #southafricandaisy #capedaisy #blueeyeddaisy #daisy #sunflowers #daisies #colorfulflowers #summerflowers #summergarden #containergarden #flowerphotography #floweroftheday #flowersmakepeoplehappy #plantoftheday #dailyblooms #plantapp #plantsnap

Epiphytic #Orchids found in the Dooars and #Darjeeling hills are facing extinction due to deforestation caused by human intervention. These beautiful and fragrant flowers, known for their medicinal properties, are at risk of being lost forever. It is crucial that we #StopExploiting #Nature for short-term gains and recognize the long-term consequences of our actions. Read more : https://bit.ly/3p3s4Ix