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Post by Brian Barnes on Aug 20, 2008 13:27:06 GMT
Hello Cp'ers, During a recent field study, I had the pleasure of photographing one of our most unusual wildflowers here in Florida. Bejaria racemosa, favors the drier, sandier areas and secretes a mucilage that is quite powerful and very much reminiscent of Roridula gorgonias. Note the huge swarms of dead Plecia nearctica plastered amongst the stems and flowers... Allow it another ten thousand years or so to evolve a bit more and we'll possibly have a new carnivore to add to the list!  Happy Growing, Brian.     |
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Post by BarryRice on Aug 20, 2008 16:06:51 GMT
Hey Brian,
Cool photos. Definitely a sticky gooey plant. Is that mucus water-soluble?
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Post by Brian Barnes on Aug 20, 2008 16:25:59 GMT
Hey Man!
No, not at all. In fact, the crystal-clear mucilage has to be scrubbed off with soap and water and I do mean scrub!
Very water-resistant and very durable...
Interesting enough though, Diachlorus ferrugatus (yellow-flies) have been spotted before, feasting on the fresh caught Plecia victims! Hmmm....
Happy Growing,
Brian.
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Post by stevestewart on Aug 20, 2008 19:05:06 GMT
Ah, nomenclature!  I have just noticed that the plant that used to be called Befaria racemosa Ventenat (Wunderlin, 1982 or Taylor, 1992) is now Bejaria racemosaVentenat (Wunderin, 1998 or Taylor, 1998). If anyone looks this species up, they will be more successful using the more recent binomial name. The only reason I noticed is that when I checked the USF Atlas of Florida plants, I got the good old "no records found" notice.  Take care, Steven Stewart |
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Post by Not a Number on Aug 21, 2008 3:47:52 GMT
Allow it another ten thousand years or so to evolve a bit more and we'll possibly have a new carnivore to add to the list! Happy Growing, Brian. But then again perhaps a few tens of thousands years ago it was a carnivorous plant and has been adapting away from carnivory. |
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Post by stevestewart on Aug 21, 2008 12:04:27 GMT
Allow it another ten thousand years or so to evolve a bit more and we'll possibly have a new carnivore to add to the list! Happy Growing, Brian. But then again perhaps a few tens of thousands years ago it was a carnivorous plant and has been adapting away from carnivory. The famous last thought of a fly in a flytrap!! ;D Take care, Steven Stewart |
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Post by andreasfleischmann on Aug 21, 2008 16:29:49 GMT
Hello, Brian, nice photographs! The original (and now conserved) name of that Ericaceae is _Bejaria_. The plant was described by Mutis from Linneus' work under that name. However, Mutis had such a scrawly handwriting that some people read a "f" instead of a "j", and thus the name for the genus turned into "Befaria" in some books. Barry, the glue of Bejaria (and several other Ericaceae) is resin-based, just like in Roridula. Not surprising if you consider the fact that Roridulaceae and Ericaceae are closely related, both belong to the plant order Ericales. But Roridula is still much closer related to Sarraceniaceae and Actinidiaceae (the Chinese Gooseberry Family) than to Ericaceae. What is suprising is the conicidence that several families or genera of Ericales share a common distribution between Noth America and the Guayana Highlands, especially the Venezuelan tepuis. For example on Roraima you can find several species of Gaulteria, Bejaria imthurnii, Heliamphora (the counterpart to Sarracenia  ). And in case you had the chance to take a look in Stew McPhersons amazing book Glistening Carnivores: there's a photo of a Ledothamnus species with large resin-secreting glands on flower stalk and calyx. Ledothamnus is the sister genus to Bejaria! However, they won't be able to develop into carnivores that are secreting enzymes in their glue (as it is resinuous). But take a closer look at your Bejaria plants, maybe there are some asociated bugs? All the best, Andreas |
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Post by shartmeyer on Aug 22, 2008 12:40:35 GMT
Really impressive photos Brian, thanks for sharing them. Such a concentration of available insect protein is certainly of interest for mutualistic or clepto-parasitic bugs. I am at one with Andreas, that to watch for bugs could indeed be interesting.
If you like to remove the resin from plant parts or your skin, try it with a little butter. Resin is a nonpolar compound, impossible to dissolve it in polar water, but nonpolar butter works fine, also for Roridula glue.
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Post by Sockhom on Aug 22, 2008 12:51:45 GMT
Fantastic pictures Brian!
I'm looking forward to read about an hypothetical mutualism.
François.
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Post by Not a Number on Aug 22, 2008 17:09:47 GMT
Olive oil works well in many instances too.
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Post by Brian Barnes on Aug 22, 2008 22:12:58 GMT
Thanks everyone for the kind comments and mucilage- removal advice as well! I do thoroughly plan on studying the mentioned species in depth and will gladly report any findings, symbiotic or other to everyone. I'm hoping that the flowers in my photos will welcome me with semi-dehicent pods here in a few weeks. I may have some available extra seed as well....We'll have to see, as Florida just got pounded for 5 days with 50mph+ winds and consistent rains.....20 inches to be exact! Preferring scrub-like conditions, Beharia capsules may slightly detest such wetness as we've had here. TS Fay is now pelting the Fl. Panhandle as well.... Happy Growing, Brian. |
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Post by ICPS-bob on Aug 23, 2008 16:17:49 GMT
We'll have to see, as Florida just got pounded for 5 days with 50mph+ winds and consistent rains.....20 inches to be exact! ... TS Fay is now pelting the Fl. Panhandle as well.... At least your drought seems to be over. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Fay_(2008) |
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Post by Brian Barnes on Aug 23, 2008 17:22:05 GMT
I think so, Bob! ;D Actually, I'm hoping to see more prolific flowering of the Sarracenia up there come Spring, as a result of this pesty, yet much needed rain-maker. I wasn't too impressed with their appearance in early Spring of this year because of near-drought conditions for the last few years, although the Pinguicula did look most excellent... Also, I think Sarracenia leucophylla will really kick in now, with a glorious display of Fall pitchers in a month or so. I'll definitely be checking them out and photographing them. Happy Growing, Brian. |
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