Hi everybody!
I can't find my more than year old topic, so I'll start a new one
This year, after a bit of rain ;) I finally see some wild flowers appearing. I just wrote in my blog about "starry chives of the sands" http://tamara-kulikova.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/flowers-finally.html (http://tamara-kulikova.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/flowers-finally.html) , sand-growing white flowers which are a bit like crocuses, but with a flowers that sit a lot lower in the leaves. Anybody saw any other significant patches of flowers yet? I am told there are some good spots around Lajares, but I don't know if anything appeared is there now
Thanks for any info!
Tamara
Beautiful photos Tamara. Thanks for sharing them. :)
Every cloud has a silver lining as they say! Those recent rains certainly have if they have encouraged such beautiful flowers to grow in such a dry habitat and what a lovely name for them. Thanks for the photos Tamara.
Lovely Photos Tamara, thanks for sharing. Glad to hear the rain has contributed to the growth. It was extremely dry until recently. The barancas were mostly dry everywhere. I will watch out for your plants.
Thank you and, yes, please let me know if you see anything :)
Fantastic photos Tamara, well done
Hi again,
I am so afraid that I would miss something flowering that I went for a walk today, from Lajares to La Oliva, and I am happy to report that the garland chrysanthemums are appearing too :) Not great big fields of them, but goodish patches.
Those are not as unusual of course, but if you are interested, pictures are here http://tamara-kulikova.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/lajares-to-la-oliva.html (http://tamara-kulikova.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/lajares-to-la-oliva.html)
Great pictures Tamara. This is the first time I've picked up on your blog. I really like it and I'll be watching for more.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8a87ZAE9F98/UK0BVst0ERI/AAAAAAAAB1c/7l_ugfUGjkk/s1000/IMG_7902_small.jpg)
Hm... I guess all that green makes camels happy. But I am worried about the flowers now :)
Photo taken today
(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432307_541659022528466_1822371223_n.jpg)
Hope you can see the pic, I linked it from facebook and don't know if it will show or not.
Of course, agave plants don't seem to mind the lack of water anyway and there is nothing unusual about them blooming, but I am always impressed by the height of their flowering spike. One tall plant for sure.
BTW, there are now many more of the flowers from the first post in the dunes, and probably will be more eventually. Seems like a good moment to go and see them :)
today at the edge of the dunes
a lot more starry flowers out (vague blue thing in the background is Montana Roja)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kRvv2_bVLuo/UMEbnhIHzSI/AAAAAAAAB7c/9VhVorLzC3M/s1000/IMG_9943_small.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O4L3WeKgtaw/UMEbKvJqiSI/AAAAAAAAB7E/ewHp8auxbQs/s800/IMG_9936_small.jpg)
I don't know what this is yet, but what a beautiful blue
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lBA1c-lu6Ik/UMEbfyKJsYI/AAAAAAAAB7U/L9kV5AbOaXQ/s800/IMG_9976_small.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qaAa2XcLwBI/UMEbIOARn7I/AAAAAAAAB68/ylJ2xlAaHu0/s800/IMG_9900_small.jpg)
Beautiful. :)
Great pictures Tamara. The deep blue flower is Anagallis arvensis, aptly named hierbo del cielo in Spanish. Also called Muraje comun and moralillo, blue pimpernel in English. Also comes in orange and purple variations
Always happy to look up Fuerte plants for you - just drop me an e-mail. There are about 800 plants native to Fuerte, and I have photos of nearly all of them in my database.
I really enjoy your blog. Looking forward to trying to find the Ajuy arch on our next trip.
PHo, thanks very much! You are so right, what a great name Spanish has for this little blue flower :) I will definitely ask you next time I puzzle over a plant:)
Thank fifi, glad you like the photos :)
And now we have bluebells, which are actually brown :)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XdR-6fAmanE/UMiNnZVi9zI/AAAAAAAAB8A/a_efhX20-YA/s720/IMG_0346_small.jpg)
Dipcadi serotinum for those who are interested. Same edge of the dunes that the white flowers were originally found - and now we have even more of those, btw.
This is no exactly a flower of course, but I found those vary small, very lonely cloud over Lanzarote rather touching.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C61o5tBYnCw/UMiNiA1Pa3I/AAAAAAAAB7w/abqHkIRzIbQ/s1158/IMG_0354_small.jpg)
when we finished our shopping it looked a lot healthier :)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AfM172NJAdU/UMiNihpQ33I/AAAAAAAAB70/XhWCj3DaeVg/s1158/IMG_0357_small.jpg)
Were these taken today? the weather looks lovely. :D
yes, today, around midday. It felt quite hot in the sun with almost no wind.
and it is still sunny right now :)
(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/470802_546027855424916_1586484711_o.jpg)
once again, an image from Facebook, so not sure if it is visible, tell me if it's not, but! look how green and thus true to its name is Villaverde right now :)
It's like the spring we never had this year. :( Unfortunately our peach tree has bloomed now too! Probably means no peaches next spring though. Too cold now for germination & fruit. >:( Still lovely, lovely GREEN everywhere! 8) 8) 8)
You should see the bl---y weeds in my garden!
Hi Tamara from Tamara
I was taking some photos at the same time as you were doing your shopping - I saw that tiny cloud! In the malpais below the Santa Clara building site I also found some anagalis and another plant that I thought at the time was Echium - now I'm not so sure. It looks different in the pic from what I remember in the field!
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag88/TamaraEnLaPlaya/DSC00417_zps119d22f5.jpg)
I also found a Datura stramonium (thorn apple) (toxic):
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag88/TamaraEnLaPlaya/DSC00420_zps90aaa441.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag88/TamaraEnLaPlaya/DSC00422_zps55111c47.jpg)
Can you or PHo confirm the possible Echium please? I can show you the plant if you wanted a closer look/take your own pics.
Hi :)
Looks like this one http://floradecanarias.com/echium_bonnetii.html (http://floradecanarias.com/echium_bonnetii.html)
There was a lot of them in one by the roadside as you just coming into Villaverde from Corralejo, nice little patch of blue :) Don't know if they are still there, that was about a week ago
I agree - it's echium bonnetii fuerteventura
beautiful
Thanks both.
It's a bit spooky 'cos I brought seeds of anagalis and echium back from the uk with me in October to try growing in my garden - they seemed the sought of plant that might do well out here. Different varieties than the local ones of course, courtesy of Mr Fothergill!
Hi Tamara, I love the thread and the pix of vegetation. You have about 8 different species, though not all in flower, in the top one above.
http://www.amjbot.org/content/87/7/909.full (http://www.amjbot.org/content/87/7/909.full)
I've put the link in so that you can see it's not a good idea to bring alien seeds and plants in without checking with the local environment agency or govt conservation people. I don't want to dampen your obvious enthusiasm but I'm sure you don't want to be personally responsible for causing the extinction of any Fuerteventuran sub-species by introducing something that may hybridise with it or out-compete it. Some of these sub-species may be over a million years old and many now have strong conservation measures in place.
Up to c. 1970 there was a very low human popn. and there were very few visitors to Fuerte but even then introduced cats, especially, were making cruel inroads into the indigenous reptile, bird and insect species. It's the same on the other islands too, mainly because visitors are not educated enough to know that they can cause great damage to local flora and fauna. Historic introductions of invasive alien species have already caused much damage; goats, dogs, rabbits, rats and hedgehogs amongst the other mammals.
This one may interest you:
http://www.rareplants.de/shop/prodtype.asp?CAT_ID=70 (http://www.rareplants.de/shop/prodtype.asp?CAT_ID=70)
Hi Waggy
Thanks for the info and links - I found the article very interesting although I did get rather befuddled in places! I've now decided against sowing the imported seeds in my garden.
It's a bit worrying though that I approached my local DEFRA office before moving here about bringing a variety of plants with me from my uk garden. They checked out the regs for Fuerte and said it was quite alright as long as it was in small quantities for private use and that they would need to check they were healthy before I transported them. In the end I didn't go ahead as it wasn't a good time of year to disturb the plants. There was only one variety they said couldn't be brought in - I've forgotten what it was now as it didn't apply to me.
Is everything that is sold in the garden centres ok, do you think?
With the concerned comments about even moving the local plants around to decorate road-sides and public gardens I'm now getting paranoid about planting anything! Perhaps I'll just stick with the weeds that have come up after the rain - after all, they're only weeds if they're in the wrong place!
Thanks again for the info.
Today by the road from La Oliva to Lajares
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HpmtCNzNSIE/UNR3EpT7e-I/AAAAAAAAB_4/tAJe_pNB5jg/s900/IMG_1017_small.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9AObhmlJsso/UNR3FqKCe8I/AAAAAAAACAE/fVdp1fGD7NA/s720/IMG_1030_small.jpg)
Those above are probably the some sort of Chrysanthemums too, but different from the usual garland one. But of course I don't know for sure
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zJLqCIF77oU/UNR3Dzan68I/AAAAAAAAB_0/xdr-VWDBU7Y/s720/IMG_1023_small.jpg)
Looks like chives, but once again, don't know which
Pho, if you maybe can have a look and id those if it's not too much bother? I know the site - that http://floradecanarias.com/ (http://floradecanarias.com/) but their search is not at all easy (or I haven't found the easy way yet). It will take me a while to trawl through it, so I am hoping for shortcuts :) Thanks :)
PS: this is just to give the general idea how that particular patch field looks like today
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7auO5ihIc3k/UNR_ZW4EURI/AAAAAAAACAY/XCS-d95VTE4/s900/IMG_1052_small.jpg)
Wow! Lovely piccy, Tamara. That rain a while back sure brought things back to life.
Thanks, waggy!
I also hope that the dews we are having in the mornings now will be enough for the plants to continue to grow. Everything is wet when I first open the door :)
Have you got a bird bath that rats and squirrels can't get up? You may get a few interesting small birds early in the morning.
Unfortunately, right now I don't have a garden, so no bird bath. Our next place must have one though, if I have any say in it :)
Today's catch - between Villa verde and La Oliva, sort of going in a zigzagy way for the two windmills. If you saw a woman with a big camera kneeling or laying on her stomach on sharp rocks in the field while thee male members of the family getting slowly but surely bored nearby - that woman was probably me :)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SvYbV_hiBjs/UNYl2xHe6DI/AAAAAAAACAs/KEY-FU9ANyc/s720/IMG_1224_small.jpg)
I am almost sure it is sweet pea Lathyrus clymenum
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GswocjrsoZM/UNYl9YrJDnI/AAAAAAAACBM/NuLNTWApQ-Q/s1000/IMG_1231_small.jpg)
more of the same
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MxmjJ0EnvS0/UNYl9-S_k9I/AAAAAAAACBQ/WJiu2SB1bSU/s720/IMG_1287_small.jpg)
the same chives as yesterday - probably Allium roseum, rosy garlic, but if anybody knows for sure, please confirm or deny :)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GftkwOrWLEo/UNYl3PzZ7iI/AAAAAAAACAw/3L0e67KU19I/s720/IMG_1211_small.jpg)
this one I don't know, but possible some legumes too?
You do find some interesting stuff, Tamara. The first one is definitely pea family, the second, allium and the third is possibly a fumitory. Whether they are endemics, I wouldn't like to say but it's very often the leaves that are diagnostic - do they have spots, spikes, protective wax coats, paired, shape, dicots, monocots, etc. It's often a better guide than the actual flower.
If you get a good field guide to fuerte/canarias flora it will have a diagnostics introduction probably.
Thanks waggy, the last one (fumitory) is a completely new name for me :)) The floradecanarias.com lists 7 species of them, all looking somewhat similar :)
I haven't seen a good guide to canarian flora yet in the shops or in the library. Amazon.co.uk lists some though, will have a browse.
Hi, Tamara, Just google what you want as 'images' and something like this will show up. Hopefully anyway.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1440&bih=710&q=fumitory&oq=fumitory&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i5j0i24l7.1812.5019.0.10085.8.8.0.0.0.0.65.501.8.8.0...0.0...1ac.1.E685q_GA-4s (http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1440&bih=710&q=fumitory&oq=fumitory&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i5j0i24l7.1812.5019.0.10085.8.8.0.0.0.0.65.501.8.8.0...0.0...1ac.1.E685q_GA-4s)
I googled 'Canarian fumitory' for this one on 'images'. there are lots more on the 'images' page. When you click on the pix you want to look at and it comes up, you'll maybe see a document underneath it; click on the corner 'x' of the piccy to get rid of it and you can then read the doc. underneath.
http://canarypix.photoshelter.com/image/I0000sFKwCP6i_GU (http://canarypix.photoshelter.com/image/I0000sFKwCP6i_GU)
Plenty to keep you going here.
http://canarypix.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canarian-Wild-Flowers/G0000lHOGUnNhLuI/0/C0000BziXGNDNLWg (http://canarypix.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canarian-Wild-Flowers/G0000lHOGUnNhLuI/0/C0000BziXGNDNLWg)
wow, that's a lot of interesting plants there, thanks!
Would you know what this one is called - grows like weeds in my garden?
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/emmismith/Miscellaneous/Spanishflower.jpg)
We've now got them in our garden. We call them monster plants because they grow very quickly and tall. What you can't see in Emmis photo is the green leaves on the stem. They grow to about 90cm.
Hi Tamara. I agree with Lathyrus clymenum and Allium roseum - the fumitory is Fumaria bastardii I believe (there must be a story behind that name). The best book I have found is Wild Flowers of the Canary Islands, by David and Zoe Bramwell. It is long out of print but I found a second hand copy. It's biggest drawback is that is uses mostly line drawings and few pictures. Also it is so out of date that some of the names have been changed.
I eventually got so fed with this up that I bought two Fuerteventura-only species lists, which mostly agree but have only scientific names and no descriptions. Then I built a database and populated it with images from the internet. There are about 850 entires, Fuerteventura plants only, and the search facility is pretty rudimentary, but it has enabled us to identify many plants that would otherwise have baffled us. I have also produced books on birds, butterflies and seashore which are small enough to take with us on trips out.
Yes - sad old git I know, but I enjoy it!
Re: my photo above of pink flowers, I have some monsters in a pot which are over 200cms.!!!!
(not including the pot)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/emmismith/Miscellaneous/Spainmonsters.jpg)
nothing remotely like your monster plant in my database Emmi. I suspect it is an introduced garden plant that has escaped, and not native.
The University of British Columbia has a plant identification forum which has come up trumps for me in the past. Got an identification of a Fue plant from someone in Peru!
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=7bcdfbfe1338b3b3788ba5d4a76f60c7&f=38 (http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=7bcdfbfe1338b3b3788ba5d4a76f60c7&f=38)
that "monster" thing is probably Kalanchoe serrata. Have a look at the pics on google, looks pretty much like it.
Pho - I do believe that all "bastardii" things are meant to be sort of opposite to "noble", i.e. "common", "grows everywhere", "not that interesting" :)
So... is your database accessible on the web? and your books, are they something I can buy or is it something your produced for your personal use? Thanks!
It certainly looks like the Kalanchoe, which is not native to Fuerteventura.
I have sent you an email about my database, Tamara.
Yep, those are the ones see here,
https://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=kalanchoe_serrata
and at USD 9.99 per plant, looks like I am on the way to becoming a millionaire!!! LOL!
emmi, once you are there, drinks are on you, right?
yesterday's catch (calima killed the sky somewhat, shame)
Echium and something dandelion-y :) View towards Lajares from Montana Del Arena
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9LN0-Z_X7zw/UOhzPucHHeI/AAAAAAAACCE/EVJGtUWV-zA/s1000/IMG_2680_small.jpg)
Fumaria
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7Vtxks8wzwI/UOhzOE_SsOI/AAAAAAAACB4/96bxltSaoVE/s800/IMG_2723_small.jpg)
asphodele
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pQVmzXcWI7I/UOhzNVOC4-I/AAAAAAAACB0/eQWM2sQ8FPU/s1000/IMG_2751_small.jpg)
probably ranunculus of some kind?
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MRxtRNuN1J0/UOhzQZh7_DI/AAAAAAAACCI/y5hjnzz3DRg/s720/IMG_2776_small.jpg)
Hey Tamara, I'm not a plant person and love fuerte because it's so baron, but you've changed my mind looking at the beautiful pictures you have posted, thank you for this and making me look twice at the world around me!
I love the first photo that you posted in your last post Tamara
Thanks for all the beautiful photos. :)
Quotenothing remotely like your monster plant in my database Emmi. I suspect it is an introduced garden plant that has escaped, and not native.
From my internet search it may be from Madagascar! And first discovered about 400 years ago!
Right again Tamara. It's Ranunculus cortusifolius, the only species native to Fuerte. Local name Morgallana.
thanks guys, and thanks very much Pho for the id of the buttercup :)
there is a lot of interesting flowers right now as you go from Lajares to El Cotillo along the main road - after the roundabout look at your left hand side (probably right hand side too, but there seem to be fewer flowers there).
There are "starry chives" of the original post, echium, chrysanthemums, and I found two more things that I can only tentatively classify
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0sQ6eXCpRfo/UOs2F-spq8I/AAAAAAAACC0/okXfFzoZ-co/s720/IMG_2877_small.jpg)
I think it is Matthiola bolleana, canarian wallflower, endemic to eastern islands, although, as usual, not 100 sure. While each flower is not that beautiful, it forms nice pools of lilac color
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uOUcbBf5L9k/UOs2FBfTooI/AAAAAAAACCs/AgarUydp-xc/s720/IMG_2895_small.jpg)
Don't know, too many types of flowers look generally similar. Coleostephus?
Yes it's Matthiola bolleana. The yellow flower is Senecio bollei, also endemic to Fue and Lanza. local name Moqueguirre de Bolle.
This is in a local community garden.
(http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i460/susannah1864/DSC01446_zpsc19df210.jpg)
Tamara it is just amazing what is about if you keep your eyes peeled. Loved the pictures you have posted.
Next time I am over will let you know so you can get a photo of a real gem ;D :D ;D
thank you Pho, once again :)
falkirkdan - looking forward to it :)
bright lichens and asphodels around Montana del Arena
(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/322487_559522517408783_759683383_o.jpg)
Tamara, I'm always impressed how well controlled the exposure of your photos is.
If you take photos of Dan, be careful they don't become 'over-exposed'... ;)
cheers duncolm, will watch out for any signs of over-exposure :)
hi what camera do you have
(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/256196_560006870693681_2068167542_o.jpg)
Close to Lajares roundabout yesterday
c matthews : canon 5d mark ii
thanks
Today I went up the Ecanfraga, biggish mountain next to Villaverde. While the mountain doesn't have many plants on it, a little barranco between it and the village is blooming marvelously :)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U1T_BznFog8/UPmn0xW2iLI/AAAAAAAACDw/DMNZsklD1oo/s720/IMG_3885_small.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q6kPrgvIZFg/UPmn1MzfUAI/AAAAAAAACD0/1E7VgInQlJA/s720/IMG_3887_small.jpg)
Silybum marianum. Looks like I am bit late for the tallest and most spectacular ones - they've almost finished blooming.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BqrwFXAfxJ8/UPmn7btijEI/AAAAAAAACEQ/-FoMt7s2EAI/s720/IMG_3892_small.jpg)
don't know, some sort of ground-cover, flowers are really small
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w0uY1lYdOsI/UPmn8kUjFpI/AAAAAAAACEU/TSqWcwXSmbY/s800/IMG_3917_small.jpg)
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. Seeds were apparently used in the past to make gofio
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-98tq-38BlT4/UPmn6omsBjI/AAAAAAAACEI/1VXiJsvcU7Q/s720/IMG_3902.jpg)
More asphodels
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QKPvx4J76W4/UPmn5lGBtBI/AAAAAAAACEA/hjwqCsigTVk/s1024/IMG_3759_small.jpg)
and the view south west from the top (more or less).
actually, I didn't get to the top, had to stop maybe 30 meters down from it. My (otherwise excellent) Kompass map doesn't show a path up, so I randomly chosen the path on that side of "horseshoe" that is closer to Villaverde and it didn't lead to the very top. I was alone so I chickened out somewhat and decided not to climb that last bit.
Next time I try the other side
great pics again - especially the view!
Again,what a beautiful island this is,its got everything.......Hope it stays that way.......Fab pics........ :)
thank you.
we had a little rain over the dunes today, maybe more flowers are coming, at least I hope so :)
(http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/265108_565824190111949_407822797_n.jpg)
well, that's not exactly canarian flora, but it rained again just now - including on my Christmas star plant :)
Thats hell of a camera you have there Tamara,lovely pics,you have a talent dear...... ;)
cheers, Paddster :)
Here is another interesting plant we saw this weekend in Jandia
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-etsioXtGeKw/UQgj8IzW6pI/AAAAAAAACHI/YFHkIu8AaZw/s720/IMG_4380_small.jpg)
at first I thought it was a bindweed, wrapped around branches of a low and very prickly bush, but no, the flowers belonged to the bush itself.
Now I found the name - Convolvulus caput-medusae, so it is related to bindweed (Convolvulus). It's another endemic, growing only of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria, but mostly on Fuerteventura, and another "vulnerable" species.
"caput-medusae" bit is "head of Medusa", reference to the thorny branches that stick out as a very untidy hair, apparently :)
I wouldn't mess with that then,especially if its owt like who its named after,LOL.......Great pics again,thanks..... :)
pretty sure it won't turn you into stone, but it would be painful to sit upon for sure :)
LOL...... :)
(http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/66614_585023708191997_2084234502_n.jpg)
Amazing how much the flora on the edge of the dunes changed since I've checked last. It's quite dry now, and lots of those plants, Cyperus capitatus, came up, straight out of the sand again
Great camera you have there tamara,your pics are fantastic,keep 'em coming please.... :) :)
Here! Here!!
Thanks :)
(http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563525_585915478102820_1364726609_n.jpg)
almond tree in Villaverde today :)
Stunning,keep 'em coming and thank you...... ;D
Thanks for the lovely, stunning pix of such rare and beautiful plants, Tamara; I'm getting homesick for somewhere I don't even live.
(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/893658_602215673139467_1958973920_o.jpg)
Asteriscus sericeus, endemic to Fuerteventura blooms on Pico de Zarza
Now that's a spectacular location.
Nice one Tamara.