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Post by BarryRice on Jun 9, 2010 16:28:20 GMT
Hey Jim,
It would have been great to see you there, too! Alas.
I'll have a (very) few orchid IDs from my trip I'll ask you to verify.
Cheers
Barry
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Post by BarryRice on Jun 9, 2010 16:26:40 GMT
Hey Folks,
I'm back at home, after two weeks in Florida and a little bit of Alabama.
While in Alabama, my wife and I had the pleasure of being shown around Splinter Hill Bog. We were shown the sights (and sites) by TNC staff Keith Tassin, and the ICPS Director of Conservation Brian Barnes.
Man, I gotta tell you folks.....do what you can financially to support the ICPS and TNC in managing this site. It was AMAZING. It is the finest remaining Sarracenia leucophylla site in the world. I couldn't believe how great it looks.
These are hard financial times--I know--but this place is worth your money. If you've got a spare chunk of cash burning a hole in your pocket, contact Brian Barnes, and get that money to good use. Instead of burning a hole in your pocket, it could support burning at Splinter Hill, instead!
I'll get my photos on line in due course.
Cheers
Barry
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Post by BarryRice on Jun 7, 2010 20:52:03 GMT
Hey Randy, It was absolutely spectacular spending time with you, Brian, and Jim. Beth and I had a fabulous time. Right now I'm sorting through the 800 images I took, looking for the gems among the rough. It will take a while! I'm looking forward to those videos you took---the world will finally see me for the idiot I am!!!!
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Post by BarryRice on Aug 7, 2009 22:21:08 GMT
Konnichiwa Brian! Interesting arguments. I'll go back to the original species publications and ruminate on what they have to say. I've got a whole semester of class lectures to prepare, so I'm having a little trouble staying focused on some of this stuff. However, the remaining thought I have in my mind is the following... It is quite possible that, via breeding and environmental effects, that you could obtain mimics of other Byblis species with your Byblis filifolia plants. However, even if you did such a thing, it is possible that in the wild, the separate populations of Byblis (currently described as species) might maintain consistent differences at a population level. So, even if you could breed a B. filifolia to look like an individual B. rorida (for example), if -- on the whole -- B. rorida plants had distinct characters and were reproductively isolated, then I could see arguments for separate species status. Maybe you'll have to start pinching pennies to save up for a trip to Australia and look for yourself! In that vein, Beth and I are going into the Sierra Nevada with ropes this weekend to risk our necks in a steep notch canyon, looking for new Darlingtonia sites. If you don't hear from me again, send the dogs! Barry
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Post by BarryRice on Aug 7, 2009 16:23:41 GMT
Hey Brian,
It is interesting to read your news. I’m particularly fascinated by your photo of a single Byblis plant bearing flowers with different colors.
I have to admit, I’m a little behind the times on the goings-on in this genus, but I think it is great that you’re doing very interesting research on the plants. I remember that, years ago, I observed some interesting behaviors regarding Byblis plants (that was back when they only had locational names like 'Darwin' and 'Kununurra'); Allen Lowrie later cited these observations in one of his scientific papers. So it is cool to see the interface between horticulture and science continue. I strongly believe that horticulturists, scientists, and conservationists can work together in a powerful synergy.
So, as I’m a little unsure, could you please clarify what your stance is regarding the plants? My species list for the genus is:
Byblis aquatica Lowrie & Conran Byblis filifolia Planch. Byblis gigantea Lindl. Byblis guehoi Conran & Lowrie Byblis lamellata Conran & Lowrie Byblis liniflora Salisb. Byblis rorida Lowrie & Conran
I gather that you think that B. lamellata is not distinct from B. gigantea, correct? I also gather you think that B. liniflora and B. filifolia are viable species, but that B. aquatica, B. guehoi, and B. rorida are merely environmental forms of B. filifolia?
Byblis filifolia Planch. (inc. B. aquatica, B. guehoi, B. rorida) Byblis gigantea Lindl. (inc. Byblis lamellata ) Byblis liniflora Salisb.
If I recall correctly, the published differences between the species depend heavily upon stamen characteristics, in particular the relative lengths of the anthers to the filaments. What’s your take on this?
Finally, old friend, I encourage you to keep this civil discussion on understanding the plants, and not the motivations of the field researchers. I’ve spent time in the field with both you and Allen Lowrie, and both times I was impressed by the energy, passion, knowledge, dedication to the plants and conservation, and integrity of you both. I would be as surprised to learn of scientific fraud from one of you, as I would from the other. And as a metric of my good feelings, I’m looking forward to more field time with both of you—you in Tallahassee (in 2010), and Allen in Australia’s top end (at some as-yet-unscheduled date in the future, when finances calm down!).
All the best!
Barry
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Post by BarryRice on Jul 31, 2009 6:13:17 GMT
Hi Brian, Well, you asked for it: As far as I can make out, the legend says, "BUFFED Meats Inc. The more it barks, the better it tastes" Weird! B
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Post by BarryRice on Jul 28, 2009 19:44:38 GMT
Hey Folks, I spent a day trying to find an access to a reported (but unlikely?) Darlingtonia site. Ultimately, I was turned back by private property signs. However, during my journey I found an ancient and creepy decaying cabin, a veerry deeep open shaft abandoned mine, and an abandoned overturned butcher's truck decorated with a drawing of a dog, and the legend "The more it barks, the better it tastes"! As a consolation, I found an anonymous pond at about 4400' elevation: (See also www.sarracenia.com/photos/habitats/usa-ca042.jpg) The pond was home to enormous Utricularia macrorhiza, some more than 2meters long: Plants that were stranded on drying banks were flowering: Another photo, kind of contrasty from the full sun: www.sarracenia.com/photos/utricularia/utricmacro048.jpgI'll make another attempt at getting closer, maybe this weekend. B
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Post by BarryRice on Jul 28, 2009 19:29:47 GMT
Hi Richard,
Actually, the most common form of meteor is a simple stony meteor. Nickle-iron meteors are, however, more commonly FOUND, because they look so other-worldly. In comparison, stony metors look pretty dull.
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Post by BarryRice on Jul 23, 2009 14:56:50 GMT
Thanks.
Of course, I wish that field work always consisted of a long string of successes like this, but such is far from the truth--as you know so well....
Tomorrow, for example, I'm going to be spending most of the day probably driving around forest service roads and trails, trying to figure out an approach to a possible (historical) Darlingtonia site that I've never seen before...wish me luck! (I'm not even trying to get to see the plants tomorrow--just the best approach to the area!)
B
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Post by BarryRice on Jul 15, 2009 5:42:42 GMT
Hey Max,
No, certainly we didn't have time. I've been to the 'Othello' site so many times that getting to new sites is vastly more satisfying right now. I'm tracking down a lead to some Darlingtonia sites new to me....
B
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Post by BarryRice on Jul 15, 2009 1:51:55 GMT
Hey Folks, Another weekend, another California site found. This is a scattering of lakes in Nevada County, not far from Yuba Gap. Beth and I drove until the road gave out, then hiked along a degraded jeep trail to these lakes, elevation of about 1800 meters (5400 feet). All the lakes had nice populations of Utricularia macrorhiza, U. minor, and also Drosera rotundifolia. The first lake we visited had some great Drosera rotundifolia plants living on the charcoal surface of a floating log: Mind you, this was a completely free-floating little "planting!" Many of the plants were enormous, with rosette diameters in excess of 13 cm (5.25 inches)! Sure, most of that is petiole, but still the plants were BIG! More photos: www.sarracenia.com/photos/drosera/droserotun050.jpgwww.sarracenia.com/photos/drosera/droserotun049.jpgWhat really blew us away was this site, which consisted of two floating Sphagnum mats: Getting out to the site was, well, wet, but it was worth it! Even my fisheye lens couldn't get all the plants: This is the largest expanse of Drosera rotundifolia at such high densities that I've ever seen. When I got home Sunday night I checked out the site on GoogleEarth and could see the red tinge--- Drosera visible even from space! A lovely site, a lovely sight: www.sarracenia.com/photos/drosera/droserotun056.jpgA few more images: www.sarracenia.com/photos/drosera/droserotun052.jpgCheers Barry
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Post by BarryRice on Jul 7, 2009 9:30:40 GMT
Hey Folks, My lovely wife and I spent the weekend on a whirlwind tour of potential carnivorous plant sites that I had developed leads on over the years from various lines of research. Two sites paid off really well--both were homes to Drosera anglica and Drosera rotundifolia. One also had Utricularia minor. I also found a nice large marshy lake with both U. macrorhiza and U. minor--and it looks very much like other lakes I've found in the general area that have U. intermedia and U. ochroleuca. No, these latter two species were not detected on this trip, but perhaps in the future.... A few photographs are below. 1)A Plumas county site, on a slight slope. You can see Beth exploring at center-right. 2)More of this site. Notice the characteristic red in the sedge field, that should get your salivary glands flowing.... 3) Drosera anglica from kneeling position: 4)...and from the laying-down-in-the-muck-and-slime position: (Notice the fly on top of the leaf, right at the top of this image. It landed as I took this image!) 5)A log partially submerged was dotted with D. rotundifolia, including this one that caught a lovely iridescent insect! 6)The bug is so pretty, here it is again, closer: 7)Another site with Drosera rotundifolia, this one in Lassen County: 8)This plant has been feasting! 9)Finally, an image of two sundew species growing side-by-side. Usually, D. anglica grows in the slightly more moist areas, but if you look carefully you can find them growing together. I found no evidence of D. X obovata, but certainly am not ruling it out. Also, I found no non-native CPs at either of these sites, which was refreshing. Both are somewhat remote, which has probably protected them from experimentation. Lovely sites! And my first viewing of D. anglica in Lassen County! B
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Post by BarryRice on Jun 30, 2009 15:02:38 GMT
We have had this plant in cultivation long enough, and have enough plants in stock, that we have a specimen or two for sale at the annual October plant sale.
Cheers
Barry
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Post by BarryRice on Jun 26, 2009 0:31:08 GMT
I love my shirt! Thanks for pulling this together, Brian!
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Post by BarryRice on Jun 26, 2009 0:30:03 GMT
Hey Gilym,
I don't know of any details regarding D. rotundifolia in Israel. However, a paper about it in Lebanon is Feinbrun-Dothan (1942), "On the occurrence of Drosera rotundifolia L. in Lebanon." Palest. J. Bot. Jerusalem ser. 2, 251–252.
I'd advise you to stop by one of the larger Universities, ask to visit the herbarium there (if one exists!) and look up the D. rotundifolia holdings. It should be quite informative for you.
Cheers
Barry
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