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Paphiopedilum robinsonianum, a new species of slipper orchid from Sulawesi.

February 27, 2014, 3:48 pm
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That must be a strange feeling. 


I found out that my good friend Dr Alastair Robinson, well known Nepenthes expert, just got a Paphiopedilum named after him a few months ago. But Alastair would not tell me directly. I had to ask for the taxonomic paper. Why is so? Most people would have gloated and would have carried the paper wherever they go. Their Facebook wall and Twitter account would have been submerged by pride and petty satisfaction. But my friend felt none of this: he was... embarrassed. False modesty? I don't think so.


But first things first. 
Let me introduce you shortly to this new gem from Sulawesi before I give you a few more behind the scene informations.

Here are:
-the references of the paper;
Cavestro W. Paphiopedilum robinsonianum sp.nov. Rhône-Alpes Orchidées 52 : 10-15 (2014).
Paper published by extract on 2nd September2013 for the journal Rhône-Alpes Orchidées (ISSN 11 57 6316).

-the English abstract (but the rest of the paper is in French):
A new species of Paphiopedilum from Sulawesi is described. This species belongs to the subgenus Paphiopedilum Karas. & Saito and the section Barbata (Kraenzlin) V.A. Albert & Börge Pett. The plant and the flower have some morphological affinities with P. javanicum but the dorsal sepal is white with esmerald-green center, the margins of the petals are twisted and heavily ciliated (margins entire for P. javanicum), the staminode is transversely elliptic (reniform for P. javanicum).

-And few photographs of this stunning orchid:





The 'discovery'. 

Paphiopedilum robinsonianum was recognized as a potential new species during a Redfern Natural History Expedition. Seriously. It was during the course of one of these eco-tours operated by the well known carnivorous plants writer and expert Stewart McPherson that this orchid was first thoroughly documented. Last year, a small team of enthusiasts travelled to Sulawesi guided by field botanist and Nepenthes expert Alastair Robinson, who planned and organised their itinirary around the island. His itinerary included a climb of Mount Lumut from the west, something that has not been done before, and which is what led to this new orchid find. Alastair, of course, is well known, among other feats, for having co-discovered the epic Nepenthes attenboroughii, arguably one of the most stunning pitcher plant discovered these last years (and one whose name is one of the most difficult to pronounce for us French speaking frogs ;-) 

During their journey in Sulawesi, the small team witnessed the beauties of Nepenthes species such as N. pitopangii, N. glabrata, N. tentaculata, N. nigra, N. hamata, N. eymae or the highly polymorphic N. maxima. They also photographed an unidentified Paphiopedilum. 

Shortly after, a few photographs leaked and Nicolas Bougourd, a French nurseryman specialized in orchids contacted a French orchid taxonomist,William Cavestro. Alastair's help was inevitably requested and of course he did everything he can to help documenting this taxon.This is why, despite his strong reluctance, Cavestro named this Paphiopedilum after Robinson, supported in doing so by N. Bougourd.

Why did Alastair felt so uncomfortable with this? Why did people like me and many of his friends barely heard about this? And in most cases, not even from him? 

Naming a plant (or an animal) after someone is common practice: think Nepenthes rafflesiana, Nepenthes (x) hookeriana, Nepenthes lowii, Heliamphora tatei, Heliamphora huberi, Drosera slackii, Pinguicula kondoi, Utricularia petertaylori or Sarracenia x moorei. There are so many examples. On top of that, there is a kind of tradition to name a Paphiopedium after a person, usually its discoveror.

Actually, the fact is that the discovery was collegial. Alastair was not the only one who 'found' this orchid. He was accompanied during this expedition. Moreover, the plant had been sighted a couple of years back by Ch'ien Lee himself, another Nepenthes taxonomist (does one needs to be a Nepenthes expert to find a new Paphiopedilum species?) as this picture tells from Ch'ien Lee well known WildBorneowebsite:
http://www.wildborneo.com.my/



So yes, Alastair was not the first and only man to 'discover' this new species. No doubt about that. 

But as a matter of fact, all people from that Redfern expedition and Ch'ien Lee have been cited and acknowledged in Cavestro paper. And do I need to mention the hundreds of 'local people' who surely saw this slipper orchid before? A thought that always diminish the importance of all so-called 'discoveries' ('New? Naaah...' New to science, yes').

But one thing is sure, Alastair was the one who documented the plant, the one who contributed to bring it to light to the attention of the Orchid community of specialists.So even if I understand Alastair reluctance, even if I can tell how awkward it must feel, I certainly do not support his feeling. He's lucky to be honoured that way and he should enjoy it or at least not be embarrassed by it.

Spending so much time in the field requires a level of dedication and passion than few can imagine here (yes, you grumpy reader!) and the rewards are few and often futile. Money? You don't really make a living with that kind of travels. Fame? C'mon, these are just plants! Groupies? Think twice! CP and orchids fans are just lunatics! ;-)

Incidently, I was quite amused when Alastair told me how he felt because I have had this conversation once before with another friend of mine: Jeremy Holden, whose name was chosen by me for a new tropical pitcher plant: Nepenthes holdenii. 


Jeremy first completely disagreed with my choice. He eventually wrote a paper about this on the Fauna and Flora International website (you all should read this):
'What's in a name- the perils of naming a new species by Jeremy Holden':
http://www.fauna-flora.org/whats-in-a-name-the-perils-of-naming-new-species/


Eventually, Jeremy embrassed my decision. Some matters (of private nature - I can't share everything here) followed that make me think, even today, that naming this Nepenthes after Jeremy was the smartest move I could have ever made. And we got both our names stuck together for eternity, ha! ha! (Nepenthes holdenii Mey. Geil!!).





So Alastair, yes it is futile, yes it might sound selfish but still, it is beautiful, 
it is fitting and it is essential. 
Am I talking about you and 'your' slipper orchid? Nope, I am just defining botany 
and all Natural Sciences ;-)

A la tienne, mon ami! ;-)

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Cambodian Journal of Natural History, December 2013 issue.

February 28, 2014, 2:55 am
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Here is a short presentation of the last issue of the Cambodian Journal of Natural History (CJNH), a journal that I regularly read as you might expect from me. The whole issue can be freely download from the following link:
http://www.fauna-flora.org/publications/cambodian-journal-of-natural-history/

The topics range from herpetology to coral reef management, bat observations, studies of Cambodian species of cranes or agroforestry systems.

The contents is eclectic and CJNH might indeed be renamed Cambodian Journal of the Environment as suggested in the editorial by Dr Nicolas Souter, the brand new Project Manager of the Phnom Penh University Capacity Building Project (UCBP) with Fauna & Flora International in Cambodia.

The most consistent article of this CJNH issue, written by  Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend and Jeremy Ironsid, focuses on communities and biodiversity in Cambodia. An interesting read that sadly, shows how what we refer to as 'local people' are often excluded of the ongoing developement of their country including the lands that they have traditionally managed. Both authors wrote a plea to encourage ICCA recognition: Indigenous Peoples and Community Conserved Territories and Areas.

Two of the highlights of this issue to me were, first, the taxonomic paper on Megophryids frogs written by Neang Thy, Chhin Sophea, Meang Moeun and Hun Seiha. I think all nature enthusiast have already read or seen that type of amazing frogs that use to hide in litter. Many species of that group develop some strange appendices on the forehead that look like horns:


Second highlight was the paper on Cambodian bats, presenting four new coutry records by Chheang Sarak, Paul J.J. Bates, Katherine Boughey, Gabor Csorba, Ben Hayes, Ith Saveng, Alistair Mould, Phauk Sophany and Neil M. Furey.


Coelops frithii, one of the four new species recorded from Cambodia.


It's amazing to read that 70 species bat species are now confirmed from Cambodiawhile less than half of that number was known in 2000 a time when Cambodia was described as 'one of the least explored countries' in terms of its bat fauna. This shows how poorly researched Cambodia biodiversity was until recently.
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Awakening Drosera derbyensis.

February 28, 2014, 1:06 pm
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My collection of Petiolaris complex Droserahas shown mixed results this year, mostly due to my lack of care this winter. 

Plants that have been growing in a heated terrarium in my conservatory were not really healthy because temperatures were not warm enough despite intense lighting, heating and isolation - the conservatory temperatures dropped to 8/9 °C during nighttime making it barely 20 °C in the tank itself. On the contrary, plants that have been growing in another terrarium located in my living-room this time, did better. Keeping a part of my Petiolaris Drosera in the conservatory was an experiment I wanted to undertake because I liked the idea to have all my plants in the same growing area but, so far, it was not very satisfying, even if species like Drosera falconeri, D. paradoxa or D. fulva were doing fairly well.

Still, in spite of the harsh conditions of the conservatory, a few plants have clawed their way like the following Drosera derbyensis. It's producing new leaves and it is flowering. I have eventually put it in the living-room terrarium for I do not want the risk to lose it should a cold spell happens, which is always possible at this time of the year, in our latitudes. 

This Australian sundew is a very beautiful species and is arguably a favourite of mine. I shall keep it inside the house next winter. :)





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A fragile Roridula.

February 28, 2014, 2:26 pm
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Roridula gorgonias is not an easy plant for me. 

I have tried to grow it maybe 5 or 6 times over the years but because, prior to the conservatory, I didn't have a proper way to keep it during the winter, I have lost each of my specimens. Last year, I lost a nice plant in the conservatory because, apparently, I have kept it in a place that I thought would be good enough for this fussy plant, but I was wrong. Again. The conditions were damp and not sunny enough and at the end of the winter, the plant died. 

This time, I have kept my 'new specimen' acquired in July 2013 at the last European Exhibition and Exchange (EEE) in the driest and sunniest place I could find in my conservatory along with my cactis and succulents. So far, the plant has survived and it looks like it's going to make it. However, it does look fragile and it even lost a point of growth. 

The population of bugs I keep on this Roridula went downhill after these winter months. I think there are less than 10 bugs now while there were more than 40 last summer. This is certainly due to the fact that I have neglected the feeding of these small predators. I have resumed feeding now. Hopefully, the plant will also feel better as spring comes by and as the day length gets longer. The population of Pameridea roridulae should expand accordingly from now on. Some might say that the lack of bugs is related to the plant poor state but I have seen many magnificent Roridula which didn't host any bugs so I highly doubt the validity of that surmise.

A few days ago, my Roridula flowered. I was tempted to cut the small pinkish jewels because I feared that it would weaken the plant. But eventually, I let the flowering occur. I will enjoy the show then will cut the flowers when they will start to wither.

It is bit annoying to see that I struggle so much with this fantastic plant when a few others have so much success with it. I guess they are more skilled than I am but I also think it is also a matter of finding the good conditions. I am quite a stubborn person, so I will keep on trying. :-)



This is how the main growth point looked like before the opening of the flowers. It does not look particularly healthy, I know.


Will the plant and the bugs make it? I hope so. Stay tuned! :-)
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Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, March 2014: one of the best covers ever!!

March 1, 2014, 2:07 am
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I had a short night: I stood up late. Reading, drawing, blogging... This is a nice way to start a week-end. 

It was 2 am here and I was slowly going to bed when I noticed that dear Bob Zimmer posted a link in one of the carnivorous plants forums announcing the release of the latest Carnivorous Plant newsletter (CPN) - thank you Bob! 

'You're going to read that, tomorrow, François...', I just mumbled to myself. But I quickly read the content and was stroke to see that a paper written by Charles Clarke and Ch'ien Lee on the ecology of Nepenthes campanulatawas included. I smiled because I just reposted my own humble informal field report on this species on my blog a few days ago. What a coïncidence.
http://carnivorousockhom.blogspot.fr/2014/02/nepenthes-campanulata-in-situ.html

So in spite of the fatigue and th eye strain, I quickly downloaded the issue on the ICPS website then I stumbled into this fantastic cover: (Big thanks to Bob Ziemer for having the kindness to send a high resolution version!)



I think I gasped and said something inappropriate in French ('Poutain!!!').


I was completely astonished by the picture: Ch'ien Lee, field botanist, Nepenthes expert and seasoned climber, posing with Nepenthes campanulata above Deer's cave (Mulu national park, Borneo) at about 200 metres above sea level! What a photograph!! I have to say that this shot is bound to become one of the iconic carnivorous plantspictures to me along with the famous cover of CPN with a giant Heliamphora ionasii, Ch'ien's (again) shot of N. rajah with Tupaia montana, the tree shrew, Geoff Wong's Genlisea pot showing the pecualiar traps of this genus, or Peter d'Amato with a huge pitcher of Nepenthes 'dyeriana', smiling for eternity...

I have always been an admirer of Chi'en's work. He is a source of inspiration in his own way (and a lovely show off too ;-). Both his field work and his published work. That's something that is not so easy to confess, especially when talking about someone with whom you're corresponding and that you're bound to meet eventually. But I am just being sincere here. Ch'ien epitomizes a certain representation of the explorer - like a 'modern day Wallace' as, apparently, Matthew Jebb (Nepenthes taxonomist and ant plant specialist) once introduced him during the Nepenthes summit in Sarawak in 2007. There's something thrilling about this well thought picture: a rare legendary carnivorous plant, a dangerous habitat, Borneo, a handsome adventurer... Man, everything is there. And that is how your own passion is filled up for a few more years! :)

On top of that, the contents of the journal itself was one of the most entertaining and fascinating, to me at least, for a while. So I've read all papers in a row. I will write a review of a few of them on my blog: Nepenthes campanulata, the so-called Cephalotus cultivars, the tribute to Geoff Wong by Peter d'Amato, the newly registered Dionaea cultivars... I'd really like to share my thoughts about that selection...

Yes, I had a short night.
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Nepenthes campanulata: natural history, ecology and expanded geographical distribution in Palawan, Philippines.

March 1, 2014, 4:54 am
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This the second time in a single week that I dedicate a post on that diminutive but charismatic species.

(Plant grown by Christian Klein)

As mentionned in an earlier post, the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter just published an article on this poorly known species, written by Charles Clarke, Ch'ien Lee and Veno Enar.

The references are:
Clarke C., C. Lee and V. Enar. Observations on the natural history and ecology of Nepenthes campanulata, CPN. Vol. 43 (1), 2014, 7-13.


Resume of the abstract :-)
The authors share the results of the first field-based survey of pitchers dimensions, preys and invertebrate fauna. They comment on the unique pitcher structure of this limestone specialist species. They also summup the history of the discovery and rediscovery of N. campanulata and make anew record of this species in... Palawan, Phiippines!


Ecology


As expected when it comes to a species with such a peculiar and inaccessible habitat, N. campanulata is very poorly known. Yes, the species has been readily available in cultivation through variable sources. Some growers have been successful in growing that species and flowering and reproduction has occurred multiple times in cultivation, giving popular hybrid such as the late N. campanulata x lowii, created by Exotica plants. In spite of this, the plant has not turned to be that easy in cultivation.

The biology of the species in itself remains a mystery. N. campanulata only occurs on vertical limestone cliff, mostly at 200 masl. So it is no wonder that we had so little information on the plant in its habitat. Apart from using binoculars, there's no way you can approach the plants. For this first ever field-based survey, Ch'ien Lee, one of the co-authors of the paper, had to abseil down above 50 m above the plants from the top of Deer's cave in Mulu national park ( famous spot for bat observation in Borneo. This is where I saw N. campanulata myself). 

The authors found out that N. campanulata favours particular spots within the limestone cliffs. The plants do not grow everywhere on that peculiar habitat. They grow in a niche: limestone escarpments with shelves that protect them from rain and dessication. Such limestone cliffs are not that common in Borneo and this could explain why the species does not occur on other limestone cliffs that do not present the required characteristics (and according to the authors, it is likely that such limestone cliffs never hosted the species as well). Under these natural shelves, the plants avoid water stress during dry spell and the pitchers avoid being occasionally overflowed by rainwater.

The results of the infauna and invertebrate survey is based on a sample of 17 pitchers.Dipteran (flies) followed by Formicidae (ants) are found to be the dominant prey taxon. Authors indicate that their sample size is small and only represent a single sampling event so they recognize there is 'potential for errors in [their] findings and interpretations'. Still, they 'feel' that their results are representative because similar sample sizes have been used for other Nepenthes species. As you well understood observing wild N. campanulata closely constitutes quite a perilous activity so further observation will have to wait a bit.

The rate of pitcher colonization by infauna is very low, especially when compared to other lowland Nepenthes from Borneo. The authors suggest that N. campanulata habitat is extremely challenging for invertebrate larve and only the most resilient are effectively developing inside the pitchers.


Pitchers structure and dimension


(Plant grown by Christian Klein)


Nepenthes campanulata pitchers structure (thin peristome, bell shape form) is mainly designed for trapping. Most of the pitcher surface area is dedicated for that purpose; only a small portion is devoted to digestion.N. campanulata produces what has been called 'dry type' pitchers: this type of pitchers has narrower peristome and well developped waxy zones. The waxy zone enables the pitcher to function even when the weather is dry. What is surprising for the authors is that 'dry type' pitchers were thought to be more effective in catching crawling insects such as ants and less effective when it comes to flying preys. 

N. campanulata contradicts the classification of 'dry type/wet type pitchers' for it mostly catches flying preys. It therefore makes the authors considering the fact that 'dry type''may also be highly effective at trapping flying preys'. Since Nepenthes pitchers structure have been showed to be solely governed by climate, this only proves that rather than targeting at a specific spectrum of preys, the pitchers structure is influence by its environment.N. campanulata occurs in a specific niche, so it is designed accordingly.

Last note about the pitchers: based on the samples of this survey, the pitchers are 9 cm in average and up to 12 cm long. This is supported by my own observation of one of the isotypes of N. campanulata collected by Kostermans itself in the Locus classicus (material below deposited in Paris herbarium). 


I was very surprised then to see how large (relatively speaking when it comes to this species) the pitchers could be. The vast majority of the plants I saw in cultivation and in pictures through various CP forums werehardly more than 6 cm longand often greenish instead of yellow (as described by Kostermans, its discoveror, and by Ch'ien Lee). It is because of poor cultivation or is it because the habitat proposes a combination of elements that we can hardly obtain in cultivation? Probably, because as far as I know, the materiel spread in collections derives from a seed collection that Ch'ien Lee made on the very same Mulu cave after his 1997 rediscovery of the plant.


Botanical history and distribution


N. campanulata was thought to be lost to science. It had been discovered and collected by botanist Kostermans in 1957 (who immediately refered to it as a 'spec. nov.') on Mount Ilas Bungan in Kalimantan, Eastern Borneo. In 1973, Japanese botanist Shigeo Kurata described it formally.

Mount Ilas Bungan exact location was unknown for a long time but it was eventually rediscovered. It was then found out that a fire destroyed the whole 'yellow flowers' (N. campanulata). The species was then thought to be extinct.It was actually rediscovered in 1997 by Ch'ien Lee in Mulu national park, at 400 km of Mount Ilas Bungan. The authors believe that, as Borneo has other unexplored suitable cliffs for Nepenthes campanulata (in the eastern part of the island), it is possible that other populations are found there.

But more importantly, Clarke, Lee and Enar propose and even greater expansion of N. campanulata range. In July 2013, during observation of limestone cliffs in Palawan (!) with similar characteristics than those of Mulu NP, the authors observed, with binoculars a Nepenthes plant with the 'same habitat niche' than N. campanulata. 'Furthermore, the plant stature and growth habit, leaf shape, and short tendrils and bell shaped pitchers' matched very well with the Bornean species. Although the authors could not inspect the plant closely, they are confident in their identification. One could dispute that but in the meanwhile, I will certainly trust Charles Clarke's and especially Ch'ien Lee's judgement. Whether this Palawan species taxon represent N. campanulata or a very closely related undescribed species can be investigated later.

This is an amazing discoverythat forces us to reconsider the phytogeographical connexions between Borneo and Palawan in regard to Nepenthes diversification and evolution. That may already sounds familiar to some of us, as the Nepenthes mira complex of species (Palawan, Philippines) is said to be related to species like N. villosa from Borneo. 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing more about this fascinating species that is Nepenthes campanulata. This is really and exciting, albeit sometimes confusing, time for Nepenthes studies!
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A large display of Hellebores at Delabroye nursery.

March 2, 2014, 2:34 pm
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Carnivorous plants, orchids and ant plants people, begone! 

This is a boring post dedicated on the perennials of my garden. Boring perennials that turn a small piece of land to a real heaven ;-)

Yesterday, my wife and I went to visit the 'Pépinières Delabroye' (Delabroye nursery), a quite famous nursery in northern France specialized in perennials and especially in the genera Helleborus, Epimedium and Heuchera:
http://www.mytho-fleurs.com/les_vivaces_de_sandrine_et_thierry.htm

This is the first of several opendays that Thierry and Sandrine Delabroyeare holding every year. I didn't want to miss that first one because it was the opportunity for us to admire masses of flowering Hellebores. The Delabroye produce and create a wide selection of plants from this this genus- mostly hybrids- every year. They have even written a book on Hellebores:




We were amazed by the large selection of colorful plants the  nursery had to offer.





              

              

We only have a handful of free spots in our garden this year that we can fill with Hellebores so the choice was quite tough. Here is my wife, wondering which plants we would bring home.



Eventually, we picked one of these white flowered plants, a cultivar called 'Marshmallow', a cross between H. niger and H. orientalis.




One of these: Helleborus ericsmithii 'Winter moobeam', a cultivar that produces lovely pinkish flowers.



And another one - an unnamed hybrid with yellow and red flowers (you can see it above)



Yes, I am haunted by strange plants but perennials... well,
there are one of my many loves... :-)
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Climbing Mount Trusmadi with Jeremiah Harris.

March 3, 2014, 10:26 am
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I've stumbled recently onto this awesome video made by Jeremiah Harris, well known (first league) carnivorous plants grower from Colorado.
In 2012, Jeremiah joined an eco-tour operated by Redfern Natural History. In the course of that expedition, he climbed Mount Trusmadi, a famous mountain in Sabah, Borneo, where it is possible to observe many large Nepenthes species. 



Jeremiah filmed the last 30 minutes of his Trusmadi ascent (led and organized by botanist Alastair Robinson) and offers to the viewer incredible images of Bornean upper montane forest. The video is sometimes a bit lengthy but is certainly worthy to be watched entirely : one can really feel the humidity, the moisture, the wind and the efforts  in those images. And what about those staggering pitcher plants? You will see incredible specimens of Nepenthes lowii, N. macrophylla and N. x trusmadiensis that will dwarf all of your cultivated plants! :-)

Thank you for sharing this video on the web, Jeremiah!


More pictures of Jeremiah's trip can be seen here:
http://www.leilaninepenthes.com/Giant-Nepenthes-Trip-October-2012.htm

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Conference on conservation by Madeleine Groves, ICPS 2010.

March 3, 2014, 12:28 pm
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This is another lecture that was given during the ICPS conference in Leiden, in 2010.



I have just viewed it for it was a lecture I really appreciated on a subject that mostly lacks our attention and energy:CONSERVATION.

Madeleine Groves is a lady who has worked on conservation issues in Atlanta Botanical Gardens and in the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew for several years. She has also co-authored the CITES carnivorous plants checklist, which is unfortunately horribly out of date:



In this talk, Mrs Groves explains the issues about in situ and ex situ conservation, why both are inevitably linked.
Among my highlightsof the conference was when Mrs Groves explained how botanical gardens like Kew do not include carnivorous plants in their seed collection policy since they do not fit the 'triple EEE': a plant is deemed as a priority for such institution if it is Endemic, Endangered and Economically important. Carnivorous plants only fit, alas, the first two criterium.

In another part of her speech, Madeleine Groves also recommends to have all 'our' species of carnivorous plants categorized in the IUCN list. For instance no Drosera haven't been categorized in the IUCN list.

I won't summup the rest of the talk at it is dense and full of informations. I am well aware that many growers won't care about such a lecture.Cynical will maybe be the first to speak, asserting that institutions like CITES, CBD or even botanical gardens are pointless, that conservation is pointless, that we're only documenting, trying to conserve living beings that are bound to disappear in a few decades. To these people, I have surely nothing to say: just grow your plants, grow them well and enjoy.

For the growers who still have some belief and wonder what can be done when it comes to conservation even at a very small scale, I would humbly give some recommendations

-Donate money to proper organizations that actively trying to protect biodiversity and carnivorous plants. There are some (I will write a post on them quite soon), starting with the ICPS of course.
-Keep different clones in cultivation (from seed when possible)
-Spread plants in other collections. Botanical gardens, even not always the most qualified place to keep carnivorous plants (I have seen plants I gave to botanical gardens lost because of inappropriate care) are likely to be more perenne than private growers whose collection of carnivorous plants can just be doomed after their demise.
-Spread plants with the exact identificationand location when given. I have met some growers who are not serious in the way they keep records of their plants: some collections are filled with mislabelled plants. Mistakes happen of course but a few individuals give fancy names or dubious names to plants whose label was lost and spread them (sell them most of the times) that way: this is clearly irresponsible. If you don't know what a plant is, ask to an 'authority' or keep it simply unidentified.

I may sound judgemental by writing these lines (I'm not) but, hey, this is my blog and I'm free to express my concerns. You're free not to share them. ;-)

Oh and yes, we need to truly resurrect the Carnivorous plants specialists group.

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Upper pitcher of Nepenthes tomoriana.

March 4, 2014, 10:38 am
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I've been growing this endemic species from Sulawesi for a few years now and found out that it is quite easy as long as heat and humidity are provided. A few months ago, it has entering the vining stage and is now readily producing upper pitchers. The plant is about 70 cm high and should soon, unfortunately, reach the top of my terrarium. I shall prune it then. This may help the plant to develop several offshoots thus enabling it to grow more pitchers. I have to say that the sight of a lonely vine with 4/5 upper pitchers, while nothing to be ashamed of in an European terrarium, is completely ridiculous compared to the wild plants that often display hundreds of pitchers that literally form a 'wall'!

Nepenthes tomoriana in my French lowland tank:





Nepenthes tomoriana in Sulawesi. 
See the difference? ;-)


( Last two pictures are courtesy of Alastair Robinson.)
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A bouquet of Stapeliads...

March 4, 2014, 11:36 am
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... for a good friend ;-)

I have never tried to grow stapeliads, a strange and intriguing group of plants,  although I do know many people who keep some of them. That's certainly not because I'm not interested. That's just because I never had the chance to acquire a specimen. I do have some Asclepiadaceae though (Hoya, Ceropegia...) and in time I will likely grow more (I love Hoya). I've observed quite a few stapeliads these last years in European botanical gardens and was always amazed by their colour and architecture.

Sadly, I sometimes forgot to take a picture of the tag... Therefore, some plants below are not identified. Yes, I'm ashamed and yes I do hope that some of you readers will be able to help me to improve this post by giving a good identification. 
The first two stapeliads were photographed in Le Havre, western France, in Les Jardins Suspendus, a really nice place that I recommend. 

EDIT: this one is Orbea variegata (thank you to Alastair Robinson for the ID).


There also was this amazing specimen of Stapelia grandiflora. Though a close examination revealed, as expected, quite a horrible stench, I stayed long moments gazing at this out-of-this-earth flower. There's truly something extraterrestrial in this plant. I wouldn' have been that surprised if it started talking to me ('Audrey II, are you here?' :-] )


The whole plant:


When I was wandering in Paris Museum of Natural History last year, I visited with my son and a couple of friends the tropical greenhouses and it was the opportunity to introduce my companions to this group of plants. 


Behold this lovely specimen of Stapelia gigantea!


Unfortunately, one flower was only on the verge of opening so we couldn't witness it in full bloom. 
Next time, arguably!


I am always attracted by the bizarre, so I do know that, sooner of later, me and the little family will enjoy the strange beauty of these stapeliads and their so 'remarkable' perfume ;-)
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The Pameridea are back!

March 6, 2014, 1:08 am
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I'm still not sure whether my Roridula plants are going to make it or not since winter is always a difficult time for this species in my conditions:
http://carnivorousockhom.blogspot.fr/2014/02/a-fragile-roridula.html
But the little 'Borrowers', my Pameridea tribe, are doing fairly well. I thought that there were only 5-10 specimens remaining after the dark months but after a close inspection I saw that there are more than that-maybe 15 specimens- with several very small babies that went first unnoticed. I even suspect that I missed a few of them.


A fly was caught by the plant and, as you can see, the bugs did not waste time: they literally ran unto the poor dipteran. I hope that the plants will recover soon for their house is at risk of being too small for its inhabitants!


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Nepenthes attenboroughii is slow for me (too).

March 9, 2014, 11:00 am
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There are not many decent cultivated specimens of this species around. At least among people who are willing to share pictures of their plants online. Discovered in 2007 and described in 2009, Nepenthes attenboroughii has been in cultivation for a a few years only. While I did see some promising small plants such as those grow by Jeremiah Harris or Siegfried Hartmeyer (both very seasoned growers), most of the plants I have seen have been either sulking or very slow growers. 

Mine are seedgrown plants and I have been keeping them for about two years now. Still, they are not what you would call a steady grower. It almost makes laugh espcecially when I compare this Filipino species to very fast growers such as N. mirabilis var. globosa or N. bokorensis, species that have flowered for me in about three years. Nevertheless, I certainly want to succeed with N. attenboroughii for it is such a fantastic pitcher plant, arguably one of the most fantastic discoveries in the genus in the last decades.

I have tried to use some coffee and also some laterite as suggested by some colleagues but so far, I didn't notice any significant growth progress. Last winter, I decided to put some of my seedlings with my Heliamphora under lights in the conservatory and, quickly, new leaves started to appear for all seedlings. They were extremely slow without the lights since September and now with some more lumens, they are clearly improving.

I'm not sure what to do next... I think I will just keep my attenboroughii with my Helis. I should keep the extra lights until mid or late April then I will just avoid to disturb these picky babies. I think I will even avoid to stare at them! :-) Anyway, I shall keep you posted. 

By the way, I forgot to mention that my minute attenboroughii are dwelling next to babies N. palawanensis. More on this other giant species, later. If it survives under my care!



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Amphibians: the boys are back in town!.

March 13, 2014, 1:38 pm
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Recently, A few friends of mine started to share pictures of frogs, newts and toads that just began to appear in their ponds. I was a bit envious because, so far, I didn't have the chance to explore the ponds in the forests or countryside near my hometown nor did I witness the comeback of the amphibians that have slowly colonized my two ponds during these last two years ago. I started recently to explore the vegetation surrounding the ponds, by day, and although I did glimpse a couple of toads, I found nothing consistent that could indicate a real revival. 
What an idiot I was.
I simply forgot that the best time  to observe these animals would be by night and finally that's what I did yesterday and today. With my three children, we were delighted to observe several common frogs (Rana temporaria) and one female specimen ofLissotriton helveticus, the palmate newt. I was even able to photograph a couple of these lovely creatures.







I hope to get a decent picture of a male palmate newt in the next few days as well as pictures of the common toad, Bufo bufo, and the alpine newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris, two other amphibians that I did observe last year in my ponds. 
I really like amphibians. I even keep a few tropical species (tree frogs) in my living-room that I shall show you sometimes.
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Drosera rotundifolia, Tourbière du Gué d'Hossus, France.

June 23, 2014, 4:23 am
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Last satursday was for me a kind of perfect day in its own right. Along with my friend Philippe Dabrowski, Chairman of Dionée, our French carnivorous plants society, and my younger daughter Alice, we visited the French Ardennes area, just near the border with Belgium. There, thanks to the kind advice of Christophe M. (thank you Christophe!), we aimed to prospect the 'Toubière du Gué d'Hossus'(Gué d'Hossus peatbog) in order to observe Drosera rotundifolia and Drosera intermedia, two of the three French sundews species (the other species left being Drosera anglica). The Ardennes are a plateau which extends from southern Belgium to Luxembourg, Germany and the French region of Lorraine. The highest point being about 500 metres above sea level.

Just before we found the peatbog we were greeted by a gentle stream whose orange brown colour showed that we were arguably entering a boggy area. Alice and I quickly gazed at a few damselflies (distinctive males of Calopteryx virgo) but we would fail to photograph them on that day. Anyway, it was a sign that a piece of nature was awaiting. Actually, the peatbog is located in an abandonned protected area. There were traces that some people do visit the place from time to times but the paths and trails are neglected and we would not meet a single human being in the area. The place was as pristine as one could get in that European part of the world. Fair enough as far as I am concerned. ;-)


We quite easily found the peatbog thanks to Christophe advices, to kind local people and to... Google Earth! After a short pause, we decided to enter an aborted trail in order to immerge ourselves in the habitat. 


There were several open spots as expected...


... where Sphagnum is very abundant...


... to say the least!


Soon,  we found some Drosera rotundifolia, maybe the most emblematic carnivorous plants of our French CP flora.



These plants were growing in bare soil but most of the plants we would see would be growing intertwined with Sphagnum. Some plants were quite spectacular.



As we progressed, the number of plants were increasing, most of them being as I said growing along with the Sphagnum moss. We noticed that some parts of the Sphagnum carpets were nearly crimson and in those particular spots, Drosera rotundifolia was clearly thriving. I do not know though why some parts of the moss are turning red while most remain green. This is something I noticed several times before in my past field trips but I have yet to learn the reason behind this (if someone knows, please drop me a message!).






We found an aging wooden trail with a similarly old sign indicating that temporary ponds are forming and disappearing in the bog hosting a peculiar flora and fauna: plants of the genus Potamogeton, Menyanthes and species of newts such as Triturus cristatus and Ichtyosaura (Triturus) alpestris(I did not see any of them but I didn't have the time to search for them either). The great dragonfly Somatochlora metallica was also said to be an inhabitant of that peat bog and indeed, I did see one specimen hovering nearby. But sadly, no picture.



Alice here, just before she would spend the following hours observing dragonflies, damselflies and other insects. 


It was a great opportunity for ther to practise her net skills as Odonata are certainly not the easiest insects to catch. While Philippe was already photographying some of the beautiful strains of Drosera rotundifolia that surrounded us, my daugher tried to handle the far less cooperative 'darners'! :)


And she did catch a few (that she would release immediately after observation). Here is a male Orthetrum coerulescens ('l'orthétrum bleuissant' in the French language)  from the Libellulidae family, apparently a common species there.


Other species of Odonata included Libellula quadrimaculata, Libellula depressa, Orthetrum cancellatum, Pyrrhosoma nymphula and a few Agrion that I could not identify with certainty. Cordulegaster boltoniiwas said to be occuring there but it might have been a bit early in the season. It would be interesting to visit the place again in order to study the Odonota diversity. Something I will likely do in the foreseeable future. But last satursday, I tried to remain focused on carnivorous plants ; experience taught me not to try to achieve too much goals at the same time in the field. :)

The area was literally covered by huge patches of Sphagnum that was itself colonized by thousands and thousands of Drosera rotundifolia. Looking carefully, you will be able to distinguish the sundews from the rest of the vegetation even in the few pictures below.




Now, they're getting really apparent, aren't they?



From times to times, we noticed the presence of the aforementionned temporary ponds as indicated by the sign we passed by. This one, which is about two square metres, was filled with Potamogeton plants.


A close up of the floating leaves of Potamogeton.


The margins of the pond were also surrounded by Sphagnum and Drosera rotundifolia.


In the centre of this little sea, a minute island made of grass and moss was the harbour of a small tribe of shimmering sundews.


An exquisite sight and a fitting reward for us botanists wannabees.


We would see other Drosera rotundifolia later on that afternoon but already, our mind was shifting onto the other species that was supposed to grow there: Drosera intermedia. It turned out to be much more localized than we initially thought but we eventually found it as you will see in the next post. :)
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Drosera intermedia, Tourbière du Gué d'Hossus, France.

June 23, 2014, 7:08 am
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This is the second part of a series of posts that I will dedicate on our visit to the Tourbière du Gué d'Hossus(Gué d'Hossus peatbog) last satursday. Now that I have shared with you my encounter with the lovely Drosera rotundifolia:
http://carnivorousockhom.blogspot.fr/2014/06/drosera-rotundifolia-tourbiere-du-gue.html
let me introduce you with my first meeting ever with Drosera intermedia. It could be a surprise to some of you readers to find out that I have never admired in the wild all the local French carnivorous plants, since I have quite extensively traveled abroad to see carnivorous plants, especially in Asia, but indeed, I had never seen wild Drosera intermedia until two days ago ;-)

The peatbog is quite large and although we were provided with a quite detailed indication of the Drosera intermedia whereabouts, we did not find it immediately. All we could see were legions of Drosera rotundifolia.


We stumbled onto a relatively large pond. The prospect of  spotting dragonflies and damselflies enticed my daughter Alice to go there. I joined too, as we share a mutual interest for those flying insects. I also wondered if I could find some aquatic Utricularia, though it was unlikely since the enthusiast who gave me that location, Christophe, did not mention any Utricularia in the vicinity, and surely he would have told me had he seen any.


And indeed, all we found were Potamogeton floating all around, green frogs, Notonecta glauca (aquatic hemipteran) and Odonata of course :-)




While Alice asked to stay there for a while to catch and observe dragonflies,  Philippe and I moved a bit further in order to locate Drosera intermedia.


We dit spot a few interesting things along the way. Last but not least was this beautiful terrestrial orchid. According to Christophe, we were supposed to see Dactylorhiza sphagnicola but we noticed some spotted leaves on some of these orchids and thus we wondered if they do not fall within Orchis maculata instead. Still, there was quite a range of variation and we did not examine all the plants of the area carefully. Maybe both species were occuring there after all. It's a shame I was not more  serious in my observations though. I guess my mind was completely obsessed with the elusive sundew! :-)



We also passed by other plants with pink flowers. Arguably, these represent a Calluna species. They could be found quite easily in that peatbog or 'Rièze' as this kind of place (periodically inundated peaty meadow) is also called here.


This beautiful plant, Eriophorum vaginatum, the hare's-tail cottongrass, was fairly common and constitutes a beautiful sight. It is a typical plant of most European peatbogs.



Drosera rotundifolia was ubiquitous but there was still no sign of Drosera intermedia...



Then, at the opposite side of the peatbog, in a place where vegetation was scarce, we eventually found what we were looking for... Drosera intermedia !


Here they are!


Overall, they look a bit smaller than Drosera rotundifolia. The colour was less dark orange and more crimson like. Once we were used to its sight, we could recognize the species immediately, even at a distance.




And of course, like any respectable carnivorous plants enthusiast, 
Philippe shoots first and asks questions later! ;-)


Drosera intemedia is a striking plant in its way and I think it can be compared to some of its illustrious South American counterparts such as Drosera roraimae. Note that populations of Drosera intermedia are also found in Canada, United States, Cuba, north of South America with tropical populations that do not form any hibernacula in winter.




I first stumbled onto plants growing in moist soils that were not inundated at the moment of our visit (second half of June).



These plants were pretty but clearly smaller than some other specimens...


... that were growing in inundated spots nearby.


Those plants were really impressive (though they were no Nepenthes, ah! ah! ;-)




I was so captivated by the sundews that I stood still for long minutes and sometimes I found out the hard way that it could be quite hard to remove my feet from the mud! Not to mention that it was as difficult not to trample some sundews!


I nearly forgot where my daughter was. She was actually still hunting dragonflies in the pond nearby but I asked her to join us and she was delighted when she found out that dragonflies were also hovering near daddy ;-) Notice how she didn't mind the heat, the mud, the ticks and the horseflies (did I forget to mention the dreaded ticks and horseflies?) and no, she wasn't posing for the picture, I promise.


Back to Drosera intermedia. It was kind of hard to get decent pictures as sundew, in general, are not easy to capture on photographs, at least for me.




The sight of red plants growing literally in water would be my fondest memories of the day. 


We were surprised to see how localized Drosera intermedia is, here in Gué d'Hossus. That population is growing in about 200 square metres, which is very very small in comparison to the size of the whole peatbog. If Christophe did not gave away the presence and location of this second species, we would have likely been unaware of its occurence unless we had examined the whole peatbog in an extensive manner. This reminds of how Stewart McPherson and a few colleagues found the diminutive but spectacular Drosera solaris in the highlands of Guyana... As usual, in such places, my mind was wandering ...

Next to the Drosera intermedia population, there were some Drosera rotundifolia that were growing in the same waterlogged conditions. It was nice seeing both species growing in sympatry.





Same genus, different species.



This was a remarkable 'mini' adventure. Being able to see two species of carnivorous plants in their habitat is an experience that will never cease to amaze me. Unfortunately, Philippe and I did notice that the peabog here is getting filled with more and more trees. As the agrocultural practises have been virtually abandonned here in the Ardennes, this type of already rare special ecosystem is bound to disappear eventually. It is a shame that this place, 'Le Marais de Gué d'Hossus', once a 'forestry reserve' has been abandonned since its peculiar flora and fauna do need human interference to keep thriving. 

What an ironic paradox.
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Carnivorous plants in action! Sundews with preys |VIDEOS].

June 23, 2014, 1:37 pm
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This is a third post dedicated to the two species of carnivorous plants I observed last week-end in the French Ardennes:
-Drosera rotundifolia:
http://carnivorousockhom.blogspot.fr/2014/06/drosera-rotundifolia-tourbiere-du-gue.html
-and Drosera intermedia:
http://carnivorousockhom.blogspot.fr/2014/06/drosera-intermedia-tourbiere-du-gue.html

Since I had the chance to be surrounded by swarms of sundews, I firmly wanted to witness their carnivory in action. Below is a selection of pictures and videos (sorry for the poor quality of these last ones) where you can quite clearly see sundews catching insects.

I was amazed to find out that many leaves were showing remnants of preys. Most of the time, it was possible to see dead insects on the leaves such as the ones below on Drosera rotundifolia.


And here is Drosera intermedia with a species of hoverfly that might belong to the genus Episyrphus. Can you see it? It is on the top right of the plant.


But a close inspection reveals that some preys were alive but not kicking. I heard a sound when I was about to photograph this Drosera intermedia group.


Almost at the centre of the picture, I distinguished a sinister grey silhouette...


This is a small species of horsefly, Haemotopota pluvialis, one of the rare insects I truly dislike since it appears that they really like my  blood. Each time I got stung by one of this little devils, my skin swollens for a few days!


So for the sake of scientific observation, I wasn't ready to help the critter to escape, unsurprisingly ;-)


And I even made a video. I tried to hide in my voice the horror I was feeling in front of this frightening struggle:

And there was another one horsefly nearby.


So I made a video as well, ah! ah! ah!;-)


The more I looked after preys, the more I found them as if my eye was getting used to this new target.




In the picture below, you can clearly see one of the leaves wrapping its prey, likely another dipteran, as legions of them were flying all around.


The highlight of this eerie quest was the finding of two damselflies belonging to the species Pyrrhosoma nymphula. Both died next to each other. You have to look closely in the photograph below before you can see the Odonata since their bodies are as red as the sundews themselves


Here is the first one.


And the second. 


What an incredible sight it was. I well knew that small Odonata could get captured by sundews but I had only seen this in photographs before.
A few years back, I drew an illustration of sundews for Carnivorous Plants and their Habitats by Stewart McPherson (Volume 2, page 791). I drew then a small sequence (left bottom) showing a damselfly approaching a plant of Drosera rotundifolia before it was caught by the carnivorous plant. 


It was strange but wickedly satisfying to witness this at last in real life. :-)

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An aberrant Drosera rotundifolia.

June 25, 2014, 3:07 am
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This is the fourth and last post on my field trip at the tourbière du Gué d'Hossus (Gué d'Hossus peatbog). While we were searching for Drosera intermedia with my friend Philippe and my daughter Alice, I spotted this particular plant:



(Second picture by Philippe Dabrowski)


I first thought it could be Drosera rotundifolia var. corsica, a controversial plant which was described by Maire based on specimens that developed bracts with glandular foliage on the flower scape Just like this:


(pitcure taken from:  http://www.dsot.fr/drosera.htm)

Drosera rotundifolia var. corsica was supposed to be an endemic from Corse, a French island located in the Mediterranée sea, but it had been found in a few places in mainland France as well including the French Ardennes, where the Gué d'Hossus peatbog is précisely located. Wherever it may be found, it appears that this character is highly unstable and temporary; therefore this is clearly not deserving to me a taxonomic rank but we're out of topic here...

Looking closely at the picture I took, it appears that this is not mere glandular foliar bracts which are developing on the flower scapes but rather whole plantlets. It looks after all that this is some kind of vegetative apomixis. I did not look after additional aberrant plants in the marsh but considering the towering numbers of sundews here, the odds that similar plants are occuring is quite likely.
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Meeting Gymnadenia conopsea.

June 25, 2014, 4:14 am
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Last week-end, after our visit to the Gué d'Hossus peatbog, we crossed the adjacent border in Belgium in order to find terrestrial orchids. June is an interesting time of the year to see those delicate beauties and thanks to Christophe M., the same enthusiast that helped us to locate Drosera rotundifolia and Drosera intermedia in the French part of the Ardennes, we were able to visit a interesting orchis site: an elevated grassland which dwelled likely on calcareous and silicious substrate. This site is said to be home of circa 18 species of orchids but we only found about 4 maybe 5 species that day. We were certainly not disappointed though as we were granted with wonderful visions of subtile flower architectures.

One species was particularly common (though not abundant): Gymnadenia conopsea. The 'Fragrant orchid' as it is also called in the English language produces exquisite pink flowers gathered in cylindrical spikes. Below you can see a botanical illustration with Gymnadenia conopsea (on the right) and its relative, G. odoratissima.


It was fairly hot and after our efforts in the Gué d'Hossus swamp, where we could barely properly walk because of the mud ans Sphagnum carpets, it was nice to be able to progress in the lanscape. The slopes were filled with various grasses and flowers. Butterflies came in numbers to greet us.


We were about at 200 metres about sea level and the sight was delightful.


From times to times we would spot at the distance, the densely flowered spikes of Gymnadenia conopsea.


Terrestrial orchids are seldom spectacular at a distance but once inspected closely, 
they reveal a peculiar beauty.




More plants over there. My daughter Alice's mind was already shifting onto something else. We told her that we should be able to find some Ophrys species there, a kind of orchids she had wanted to see for years. We did find a dried plant but it was of course far from satysifying for her (and for us as well!).


I was in the meanwhile completely focused on getting decent photographs of the Gymnadenia plants.



After that, I would join the quest for flowering Ophrys...

To be continued...
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A lil' girl quest for 'bee orchids'.

June 26, 2014, 12:51 pm
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Last week-end, my daughter Alice joined me and my friend Philippe to spend a day dedicated to plants. On the morning, we visited a peatbog where we could admireDrosera rotundifoliaand Drosera intermedia and on the afternoon, we went to an orchids site located in Belgium in the Ardennes. A few days earlier, I told my daughter that, with a bit of luck, we might see some Ophrys species, some 'bee orchids' as she likes to call them. She was quite familiar already with that genus as she saw multiples times documentaries highlighting the plant well known relation with its bee pollinators. 

After we observed Gymnadenia conopsea:
http://carnivorousockhom.blogspot.fr/2014/06/meeting-gymnadenia-conopsea.html

we tried to find some Ophrys plants but since we located one specimen with completely dried flowers, we thought that the flowering time had passed and that we would have to return next year to get the chance to see the 'bee orchids' in full bloom. But as we were slowly heading toward the exit, Alice suddenly yelled: 'Daddy, I just found an Ophrys'
And indeed she found one plant then, amazingly, we started to locate some more as if they just all started to sprout on the ground!

As I am absolutely not and orchid specialist, I have to say that I am not confident at all in the identifications I will provide below, so please do feel free to correct me by dropping a message.


1/ This one looks like it could be the well known Ophrys apifera.




2/ Ophrys apifera again ?









3/ Could this thid plant fall within Ophrys apifera as well?


4/ This should be Ophrys fuciflora, my favourite species of the day.





5/ Could this be a paler flowered plant of Ophrys fuciflora?




I had not seen these orchids in the wild for many years now and in a way, it was quite moving to meet with them again. It was a very nice experience also to share this moment with my daughter and now surely, we will try to see some more of these fantastic 'bee orchids' in the future. There seems to be few more species to lay ours eyes upon! 
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