Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:52:50 GMT

Pinaropappus roseus

Thanks to David Tarrant are once again in order for today's photograph from Mexico. Appreciated as always, David.

Despite a specific epithet (roseus) that translates to “pink”, the common name often used in the USA for this species is white rocklettuce. Pink dandelion is also sometimes used, as is white dandelion. Curiously, it seems the plants growing in the northern part of its range (south-central USA) tend to have little pink colouration (e.g., these photographs from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center), while those growing in the southern part of its range (central Mexico) are quite pink (e.g., today's photograph and this other photograph from Mexico). Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

August 21, 2007, 5:13 PM CT

Do higher corn prices mean less adherence to ecological principles?

Expectations of higher corn prices are leading some farmers to neglect or ignore integrated pest management strategies, and their behavior could undermine the very technologies that sustain them, University of Illinois scientists report today at the American Chemical Society meeting in Boston.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a set of principles developed to minimize the ecological impacts of pesticides, transgenic crops and other pest management technologies. A primary goal is to slow the emergence of "resistant" insects that have adapted or evolved to evade management strategies that work. Traditional approaches for slowing the development of insect resistance include crop rotation and scouting for pests to determine whether and when to use chemicals to limit damage. Newer strategies include planting non-transgenic corn "refuges" alongside crops of transgenic corn.

(Transgenic corn hybrids, such as Bt corn, are engineered to produce toxins that target specific insect pests. Planting refuges of non-Bt corn near Bt crops slows the development of Bt-resistance in insects.).

The use of corn for biofuels production has pushed corn prices higher this year than they have been for a long time, said Kevin Steffey, a U. of I. Extension specialist in entomology and professor of crop sciences. Steffey is one of three scientists at Illinois to present at the ACS meeting......... Posted by: Jessica      Read more         Source

August 6, 2007, 5:24 PM CT

Can hemp help the everglades?

Within Southern Florida, soil and water conditions indicate potential for leaching from the use of atrazine-based herbicides in corn crops. Researchers from USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Florida conducted studies to evaluate the specific groundwater risk from atrazine use by focusing on a specific cover crop that seems to have the potential to greatly reduce that risk. The crop is called sunn hemp. Its a tall, herbaceous annual that grows rapidly to a height of 6 to 7 feet.

The regions aquifer provides drinkable water for nearly all of the rapidly growing population. Agricultural practices that impair water quality may also stunt a massive project intended to restore the Florida Everglades ecosystem. A number of investigations have shown that cover crops can reduce herbicide leaching; however groundwater quality has not been widely observed and the effectiveness of cover crops on water contamination has not been documented.

The studies revealed that atrazine and some of its products may seep into the groundwater and impair water quality. Climate, cropping patterns, high dilution rates, and high chemical degradation rates limited the contamination levels. Measurements also showed that cover crops significantly reduced contamination in groundwater. The studies focused on sweet corn production and included whether fields with a highly vigorous cover crop would reduce impacts. Sunn hemp planted during uncultivated summer periods was the most focused upon. Crops such as these can be effective in reducing weeds and leaching while enriching soil. Sunn hemp can be grown to prevent soil erosion, as high-protein forage, and in older plants, it can be used to make cloth, twine, and rope......... Posted by: Tyler      Read more         Source

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:45:37 GMT

Alpinia zerumbet

Thank you to lorax @ UBC Botanical Garden Forums of Ecuador for submitting today's photograph (original. Much appreciated!

Cal's Plant of the Week featured shell ginger several years ago. Native to eastern Asia, it is one of the species in which the leaves are used in the wrapping of zongzi (Chinese rice dumplings). Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:14:46 GMT

Foeniculum vulgare and Rhagonycha fulva

Ask most people about the various kinds of flower pollinators and the first responses you are likely to get are bees and butterflies. Beetles, however, are also important pollinating organisms. One site uses the figure of beetles contributing to the population of up to 88% of the world's flowering plants (source: Beetle Pollinators via the USDA's Pollinators site), though I haven't been able to find a scientific reference to back up that number (and considering the number of exclusively bee-, butterfly-, moth-, bat-, wind- and water-pollinated plants, I find it a bit hard to believe). Beetle pollination is scientifically known as cantharophily, coincidentally named after the soldier beetle family, Cantharidae, to which the beetle in today's photo belongs.

My observations, later verified upon researching, were that this beetle is an incidental pollinator. In its quest for seeking out small edible insects, the common red soldier beetle (photo in flight | Wikipedia) inserts its head into the diminutive flowers and brushes up against the anthers. Pollen sticks to the head of the beetle and is subsequently transferred to other flowers as it continues its grazing behaviour. In the span of ten minutes, I observed this beetle visiting approximately twenty flowers — quite a pace!

Rhagonycha fulva is often found on members of the Apiaceae, or umbel family, like the plant in today's photograph: Foeniculum vulgare, or fennel (previously featured on BPotD here with a link to Gernot Katzer's spice page on fennel). Interestingly, Gernot Katzer notes that it is not only the fruits of fennel that are used in cuisine; the pollen of fennel (aka “Spice of the Angels”) is a small-scale exotic (and expensive) herb crop in Italy and California. If only the beetles could be trained....

Lastly, thank you to both BugGuide and What's That Bug? for enabling me to identify the beetle. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:07:19 GMT

Matelea pilosa

Thank you to David Tarrant for today's photograph. It was taken in El Charco del Ingenio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Thanks again, David!

The genus Matelea contains approximately one hundred and eighty species distributed in subtropical and tropical areas of the Americas. Collectively, these twining vines are known as the milkvines, a common name similar to their cousins the milkweeds (the genus Asclepias). Matelea pilosa is a relatively unknown species (few search engine results, no common name), but the Neotropical Herbarium Specimen database at the Field Museum does have a scanned specimen online. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:27:40 GMT

Hesperoyucca whipplei

Botany Photo of the Day will have brief written entries on weekends, holidays and my vacations from April through September. – Daniel

Words of thanks to xpeditions@Flickr for today's photograph contribution (original via BPotD Flickr Group Pool).

Most online references suggest the scientific name of chapparal yucca is Yucca whipplei, but recent DNA studies have reinforced the 1893 recognition by Trelease of Hesperoyucca as a separate genus. The Flora of North America's description of Hesperoyucca provides more information; the FNA entry on Hesperoyucca whipplei describes the species and includes a map of its distribution north of Mexico. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:22:41 GMT

Fuchsia procumbens

A thank you to JPierre of Préaux, France, for sharing today's photograph (submitted via this thread on the UBC BG discussion forums). Merci beaucoup!

Creeping fuchsia is native to the North Island of New Zealand, where it is sparsely distributed and sometimes considered threatened. JPierre originally posted this taxon as Fuchsia procumbens var. kirkii, a name which I'm uncertain was ever scientifically published (Fuchsia kirkii Hook. f., though, was published but is now typically considered a synonym of Fuchsia procumbens). There is a reason for recognizing it as something distinct, though it seems most taxonomists do not feel the distinction warrants separating the species into forms or varieties. Fuchsia procumbens is heterostylous, meaning different morphological forms of the flower exist. In the case of the morph in today's photograph, the flower is short-styled (this is referable to what was once known as Fuchsia kirkii). Two other flower morphs exist, one with a style of intermediate length, and another with a long style that greatly exceeds the stamens in length. Wikipedia has an explanation of the function of heterostyly. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

June 10, 2007, 7:35 PM CT

Oxygen trick could see organic costs tumble

A simple, cheap treatment using just oxygen could allow growers to store organic produce for longer and go a long way towards reducing the price of organic fruit and vegetables, reports Lisa Richards in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI.

Currently UK shoppers have to pay twice as much for some organic products. Organic apples, for example, are around double the price of conventionally grown apples in Sainburys, Waitrose and Tesco.

One of the major contributing factors affecting the price is the short shelf life of organic produce. Conventional produce can be treated with inexpensive chemicals to aid preservation. But these cannot be used for organic produce, as by definition no artificial chemicals are used during processing.

With some organic fruit and veg, there can be large losses [during storage], Claudia Ruane, spokes person for Abel & Cole organic produce retailers told C&I. Ruane explained that although many organic farms do have reasonably sophisticated refrigeration units, there are very expensive and used only for brief storage before collection. These are important and costly but if paying out for these facilities can ensure a whole crop is not rejected by a retailer because it is a little limp or dehydrated, then it is a cost that has to be absorbed, she said......... Posted by: Jessica      Read more         Source

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:11:26 GMT

Tulipa 'Queen of Night'

A nod of appreciation to fotrristi@Flickr aka Pygge of Sweden for today's photograph (original | BPotD Flickr Group Pool). Thank you!

I encourage you to read Pygge's comments accompanying her photograph, but if you don't, I should at least pass along the name of the tulips in the background: Tulipa 'Blushing Apeldoorn'.

Interested in black plants? Read Black Plants for Green Thumbs by Dr. Leonard Perry of the University of Vermont Extension Office.

Botany resource link (for Canadians): Pollination Canada is “a new ‘citizen science’ program, that allows the Canadian public to participate in a nationwide survey of pollinators.”. The idea is to monitor insect populations and diversity across Canada, so that declines in numbers or disappearances of species can be flagged and researched. Pollination Canada is a joint venture of Seeds of Diversity Canada and Environment Canada's Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network Coordinating Office. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source