Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Hoy on November 28, 2015, 05:04:15 PM
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November is first summer month with warm weather and rain. End of dry season (which is warm also by Norwegian standards anyway 8)). They had gotten some rain just before we arrived in Antananarivo Nov. 8 so the landscape had started to look a bit green already. Although this trip was not primarily a botanical tour plants always add a bonus to me.
Antananarivo is a huge city with about 2 mill inhabitants and lots of interesting places but we had no time to explore the city (our plane was 1 1/2 days delayed >:( ) so we had to set out for Tulear (Toliara) on the south west coast where our tour started.
Antananarivo or Tana.
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On the 9th we went by plane to Toliara (more delays) via Tolarano on the south east coast. The forests of the big island is under threat and we noticed many forest fires deliberately started to get more cropland.
Fields -
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- and the clouds are as much smoke as water vapor.
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Trond,
Looking forward to more photographs from your trip!
It appears as if there has been severe deforestation! How very sad. I hope the people of Madagascar can find a good solution to this situation very soon.
Now off to Sacramento for a few days.
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Very interesting Trond, I wait for more. Many thanks for posting.
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Thanks Robert and David :) I will post the next few days when I have time!
I have not found any flora of Madagascar and it is time-consuming to look for names on the web so many of the plants have yet no name.
It is > 15 species of Bauhinia and most are endemic!
Bauhinia sp. Edit: Delonix pumila?
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Markets were everywhere - and always with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
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The trees typically has swollen stems in this part of Madagascar. Baobab or Pachypodium species.
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Baobabs can be more than 1000 years old - and they grow very slowly and it takes several 100 years to achieve the typical trunk.
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Savannah-like landscape.
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Along the road from Toliara to Isalo National Park.
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Two unknown red blooming plants in the desert.
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Wonderful, warm pictures Trond! Looking forward to see more :) The baobabs must be even more impressive in reality.
The first image showing Poinsettia and Boungavillea branches in the corner (if I'm not wrong) remainds me very much of Mexico.
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I have not found any flora of Madagascar and it is time-consuming to look for names on the web so many of the plants have yet no name.
Hi Trond,
My friend Stephen Ryan from Mt Macedon has led tours to Madagascar and may be able to help.
You can contact him on tuguriumATbigpond.com (replace AT with @). He's leading a group next October and again the following year, so if people get enthused by your pics they can contact him about joining in! ;D
cheers
fermi
PS I did get his permission to post his contact details!
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Wonderful, warm pictures Trond! Looking forward to see more :) The baobabs must be even more impressive in reality.
The first image showing Poinsettia and Boungavillea branches in the corner (if I'm not wrong) remainds me very much of Mexico.
Thanks, Gabriela :)
Poinsettia and Bougainvillea are right.
Poinsettias were rare (where I went) but Bougainvilleas and other commen showy tropical plants were common in the cities. Even roses were used in gardens.
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Hi Trond,
My friend Stephen Ryan from Mt Macedon has led tours to Madagascar and may be able to help.
You can contact him on tuguriumATbigpond.com (replace AT with @). He's leading a group next October and again the following year, so if people get enthused by your pics they can contact him about joining in! ;D
cheers
fermi
PS I did get his permission to post his contact details!
Fermi, thank you for your suggestion. If I asked Mr Ryan to help with all my unnamed plants he would be very busy for a long time ;D But I will think of it - some are more of interest than others.
I will recommend a trip to Madagascar. October is the last "winter" month.
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A chain of mountains, or rather a chain of mountain chains go from north to south of Madagascar and divide the island in a drier western part and a wetter eastern part. The mountains in Isalo National Park consists of sandstone and conglomerate.
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The sandstone absorbs water like a sponge. The watercourses that have their sources here contain water all the year, even in the dry season.
An unknown shrub at the foot of the cliffs.
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A shrub related to Malva I suppose.
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Campsite by the foot of the cliffs. Later we explored the canyons for one day before we crossed the mountains by foot.
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One of the inhabitants.
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Ludwigia jussiaeoides or a close relative!
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This plants reminds me of a Browallia and it is probably a relative.
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Hi Trond, the Flore de Madagascar is online here, but it is in French unfortunately (not for everybody 8))
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/32998#page/1/mode/1up (http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/32998#page/1/mode/1up)
You can select the volume and family treatment just at the right side of the title. If you have any translation question I will be glad to help.
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This kind of pictures are exactly what we need during NH November.
Thank you Trond for sharing these wonderful impressions!
Gerd
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Hi Trond, the Flore de Madagascar is online here, but it is in French unfortunately (not for everybody 8))
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/32998#page/1/mode/1up (http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/32998#page/1/mode/1up)
You can select the volume and family treatment just at the right side of the title. If you have any translation question I will be glad to help.
Thanks David!
I have tried to use it but it is a bit time consuming - and it is not only the language!
A newer catalogue is here
http://www.tropicos.org/RankBrowser.aspx?letter=1&ranklevel=family&projectid=17 (http://www.tropicos.org/RankBrowser.aspx?letter=1&ranklevel=family&projectid=17)
but no pictures.
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This kind of pictures are exactly what we need during NH November.
Thank you Trond for sharing these wonderful impressions!
Gerd
You are welcome, Gerd!
I looked for violets (Viola abyssinica is known here) but did not find any ;)
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When we entered the forest at the foot of the cliffs, and later inside the canyons, I was astonished to find a fern native to Norway albeit rare but very frequent here: Osmunda regalis.
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Inside the canyons the vegetation was very lush. The smell of plants and wet soil filled the air and mixed with the sound of running water and birds.
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Fern trees and Pandanus.
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Tristemma mauritianum (?) has small flowers but the leaves are beautiful.
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The canyons were a dream! A little watercourse in the sand at the bottom at this time of the year but more savage later and possibly inaccessible in late summer (January - February).
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Lots of different ferns grew on the vertical walls.
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Some places it was narrow and big boulders filled the passage.
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End of the easy path - we didn't climb up here but took a bath in the temperate water.
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Trond,
Very fascinating!
Most of the plants I know nothing about. The native landscape and habitat is very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
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Trond,
Very fascinating!
Most of the plants I know nothing about. The native landscape and habitat is very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Robert,
it was indeed very fascinating and exciting to be there :)
The landscape and the plants were very exotic 8)
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Like an advanced rock garden . . . or better!
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With many species of unknown ferns.
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Some almost familiar plants.
Catharanthus sp.
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Commelina sp(?)
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Orchids. We found many orchid species but unfortunately it was a bit early for flowers. All we found were epiphytes like this one, growing on the underside of a trunk.
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A king's grave. Can you spot it?
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Pandanus sp. It is about 80 species of this genus in Madagascar.
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Early morning. We are on our way across the mountain.
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View.
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Pachypodium rosulatum.
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Unknown rock dweller. Xerophyta sp.
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Unknown rock dweller.
Possibly Nivenia? maybe N. fruticosa which apparently occurs in Madagascar,
cheers
fermi
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Possibly Nivenia? maybe N. fruticosa which apparently occurs in Madagascar,
cheers
fermi
Thanks for the suggestion but I don't think it is a Nivenia. It is possibly a member of Iridaceae but the foliage don't fit the pictures I have found.
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I hope you have enough pictures coming for the whole winter Trond! :)
The Commelina? is a Commelina (seen a few in Mexico).
Isn't that interesting how Osmunda regalis shows up in so many places of the world?
(I understand that ours is O. regalis var. spectabilis but still...)
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Gabriela,
I hope to finish before Xmas ;)
Yes, I agree it is a Commelina but unsure of the species.
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View from the plateau.
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Eroded rock.
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I had expected more bulbous plants but didn't spot many. Here is one - unknown ???
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About 20 species of Polygala are described in this area and quite a few are not.
Polygala sp.
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Crassula sp.
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Kalanchoë sp. 67 species are described from Madagascar.
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Another blue Iridaceae.
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The path.
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Termite nest.
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Succulents in a dry climate - Pachypodiums and Euphorbia sp. More than 100 species of Euphorbia here and many still undescribed.
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Excellent report-really good to see.
Thank you
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You are welcome, Tony. My pleasure :)
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An easy walk but we started very early to avoid the afternoon heat.
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Superficially looking like a Rhododendron, but definitely not! Probably a Solanum.
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Unknown drought resistant shrub.
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An attractive Euphorbia. Probably E. milii.
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Wild fruit trees. The small cherry sized fruits tasted very good but the flesh was thin. Uapaca bojeri, endemic to Madagascar.
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Sorry - unknown. Grewia sp.
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Resident of the dry grassland. Phymateus saxosus madagascariensis
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An attractive Oxalis. One of about 25 species.
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Another Oxalis, growing well both in full sun and in shade.
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Beautiful landscape.
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It's fascinating to see these plants and landscapes Trond, mostly new to me.
Your pictures are also a welcome antidote to the wind, rain and watery light here in NW Europe.
Thanks for sharing them.
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Fascinating is exactly the word I wanted to use too. The plants and landscapes are so different to anything we have here - your photo report is much needed escapism for us. Thanks!
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You are welcome Ashley!
And you are right, it was a shock to come back from the warm southerly latitudes to the wet stormy weather at home :o
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... and Matt ;)
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Wonderful chameleons 8)
I'd always assumed that Madagascar as their present centre of diversity was where they evolved but Wikipedia tells me that they came from Africa.
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... and Matt ;)
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Beautiful! This is a panther chameleon, which is the largest (and once of the most colourful) species. I once kept and bred the Yemen chameleon. They're such intriguing creatures.
I believe they originated when Madagascar was attached to Africa, then, like the lemurs and tenrecs evolved an amazing diversity there to fill ecological niches and in the absence of predators etc. once the island separated.
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Nice images Trond!!!
Your first chameleon is an Oustalet's Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) sometimes just called Madagascar Giant Chameleon (though Parson's Chameleon from the eastern rain forest is larger). The second is a Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) -which is smaller and exists in a number of very colourful races (territorial males). Both do well in secondary degraded forest and shrubby farmland/gardens. They seem to have benefitted From Tavy (Malagasy slash and burn agriculture).
Whilst Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot for chameleons, the African mainland does seem to be their "initial" home. Some of the most bizarre species (with horns, dorsal sail-fins and flapping "ears") come from small enclaves on the mainland such as Mount Cameroon and the Ruwenzori Mountains.
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Keep them coming Trond! Maybe start a series - Madagascar photo of the day :)
That is the most amazing cricket I've ever seen (looks like a cricket to me). Superb ornamentation! Is it poisonous or a mimic?
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Gabriela,
The one pictured is poisonous - often called Rainbow bush locust or Rainbow milkweed locust. The toxicity stems from the milkweed they eat.
We also saw another about the same size (and lots of smaller ones) but not that colourful, which was said to be good to eat when roasted. We didn't try though ;)
Here is another colourful guy:
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... and I still have quite a few pictures left.
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Some beautiful scenery - and I do like the animals. All so very smartly dressed!
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Thanks Steve, and thank you for the names.
I have not had time to look up the names yet. We spotted quite a few chameleons and other reptiles, also at night, but they were difficult to photograph close. We visited a kind of "zoo" adjacent to a National Park where they kept some specimens to demonstrate for visitors and also to rescue them. They were brought there by locals as small hatchlings or eggs and set free when big enough.
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Some beautiful scenery - and I do like the animals. All so very smartly dressed!
Here's one especially for you, Maggi:
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I can't help with the plants Trond but the chameleons are familiar (though I've never been to Madagascar).
Your colourful guy of a few posts ago is actually a gal -a heavily gravid female Carpet Chameleon. The eggs are just visible through her flanks and the bold colours are to discourage amorous males.
Nice image of a red phase Panther male and the headshot is of a male Parson's Chameleon -presumably taken near Andasibe or thereabouts on the east of the island (??).
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Trond,
The landscape in Madagascar is very different from anything that I am familiar with.
Are the climatic conditions in Madagascar always some variation of Wet/Dry Tropical/sub-tropical? Or maybe something more temperate at the highest elevations? Did your visit include hiking to some of the highest peaks or into high elevation areas that might be somewhat temperate?
I guess we will all find out. :)
The natural landscape is very beautiful and intriguing, the plants for the most part foreign. I liked the brightly colored Euphorbia.
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I can't help with the plants Trond but the chameleons are familiar (though I've never been to Madagascar).
Your colourful guy of a few posts ago is actually a gal -a heavily gravid female Carpet Chameleon. The eggs are just visible through her flanks and the bold colours are to discourage amorous males.
Nice image of a red phase Panther male and the headshot is of a male Parson's Chameleon -presumably taken near Andasibe or thereabouts on the east of the island (??).
You are right. Most of the close-ups are taken in a place named Pereira's reserve on the road to Andasibe.[attachimg=1]
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Trond,
The landscape in Madagascar is very different from anything that I am familiar with.
Are the climatic conditions in Madagascar always some variation of Wet/Dry Tropical/sub-tropical? Or maybe something more temperate at the highest elevations? Did your visit include hiking to some of the highest peaks or into high elevation areas that might be somewhat temperate?
I guess we will all find out. :)
The natural landscape is very beautiful and intriguing, the plants for the most part foreign. I liked the brightly colored Euphorbia.
Robert,
As far as I know you describe the climate correctly, and of course it is colder higher up in the mountains with occasional frost. The western part of the island is also much drier than the eastern, and it is driest in the south.
We experienced a hailstorm when we were at 1450m when we had come down from the summit of Pic Boby.
The colourful Euphorbia is sometimes sold as a potplant here.
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The sandstone plateau (Isalo) is strongly weathered and criss crossed by ravines and canyons. It is usually water all year at the bottom of the canyons and a lush plantlife.
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Catharanthus ovalis, endemic to Madagascar.
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Down in a ravine. It was very exciting to descend from the dry sunbathed plateau and down in the shaded and moist ravines.
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We took a bath here!
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Some places the vertical cliffs were wet from water trickling out of the sandstone. Here was several special plants growing, like this Utricularia (possibly U. livida- about 20 species are described from Madagascar).
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Drosera (madagascariensis? - 5 species here)
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And also at least two different clubmoss species of about 25.
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Sorry - unknown.
Hi, firstly I enjoy your pictures from Madagascar, must be beautiful to see all these places. I'm afraid I'll have to do it with your pictures shown here. Thanks for that.
The plant on the second pic is probably Grewia occidentalis. It is sometimes seen in Gardencenters here and I've seen some big plants in pots in a friends garden. I have a young plant which is easy flowering and keep it inside during winter. It looses all the leaves but in spring it will thrive again.
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Hi Luit, you are right, at least it is a Grewia (I should have remembered that, have seen it once before). And maybe it is G. occidentalis but the foliage doesn't fit quite. More than 60 species of Grewia are known from Madagascar and some are still undescribed!
Grewia sp.
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Although we had been down in canyons before and seen many of the same plants quite a few were new. Unfortunately not all pictures turned out to be as good as they should :(
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Another Oxalis.
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Bamboo
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Trond - Enjoying Madagascar immensely. Did you by chance have a name for the bamboo? I presume not a Berg bamboo....... ???
john
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Think we have seen this Malvaceae before - or a close relative. The colour was a bit different as was the shape of the petals.
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We also spotted several Lobelia sp, most were tine weeds in the meadows and rice fields, but this one was a shrub. 28 species.
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The locals. We had seen lemurs before but only high up in the canopy. Here they were accustomed to people and came to get food when we had lunch.
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Brown lemur.
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Ring-tailed lemur.
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Trond - Enjoying Madagascar immensely. Did you by chance have a name for the bamboo? I presume not a Berg bamboo....... ???
john
Hi John. Sorry, no name except I know it is 7 species of Aruninaria there and possibly some other genera as well. We did see at least 3 different species. Some were relly big!
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On the road again! Approaching the granite mountains of Andringitra Massif.
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The quality of the road to Andringitra National Park wasn't the best.
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We had to cross several bridges.
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This Lantana aculeata grows in abundance along the road.
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Also common along the road: Passiflora subpeltata, not native but naturalized.
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Late afternoon in the central valley which was settled only 300 years ago. A haze covered the landscape.
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Paddy fields cover every valley bottom!
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The mountains!
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Wide patches of Clematis grows in the burnt fields.
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Typically the valley bottoms were used for growing rice but also a lot of other cereals and vegetables.
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Discussing the route and the waterfalls; king's fall and queen's fall. An ancient king and queen didn't get children - until they bathed here.
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Unknown shrub but it can be a Helichrysum. More than 100 species are known here and a lot is still unknown!
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Another Asteraceae (?) More than 100 genera with more than 500 species exist on the island.
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And a Fabaceae.
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An endemic Geraniaceae - only two species are known. Geranium arabicum and G. andringitrense. I think this one is andringitrense.
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It was locally common in the shade of other shrubs.
Salvia leucodermis. This species was very abundant. Most were plain white but some had a faint blue tinge.
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The Clematis again - at 2000m.
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Another Asteraceae.
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Soon lunch -but this site proved to be botanically interesting.
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Two blue-flowered monocots - The first is Aristea probably and the second is Xerophyta.
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Have we seen this before or is it another species. It is much bigger than the previous ones on the sandstone. Xerophyta sp.
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WOW Trond only just found this thread. What wonderful plants, my jaw dropped as I was watching. Just one point I don't think we need drought tolerant plants just at the minute. :D
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Trond,
I find myself surprised that I am familiar with a few plants you have shown. Salvia leucodermis is grown in the mild parts of California.
The report continues to be fascinating. Thank you for sharing.
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The rock formations are also of great interest. This is just a treat, Trond!!
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Trond, in the last pictures above, it looks like one of your plants is a species of Xerophyta. I tried growing Xerophyta viscosa, but without any clues on how to do it right, ended up with no seedlings.
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WOW Trond only just found this thread. What wonderful plants, my jaw dropped as I was watching. Just one point I don't think we need drought tolerant plants just at the minute. :D
Thanks, Shelagh :) It was an adventure to be there but in a month or two the flower power would have been even more overwhelming :o
No need for drought tolerant plants here either - I could have grown water lilies in my lawn ???
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I am having a very enjoyable armchair journey Trond ;D
Aristea would make a nice rock garden plant for those gardening in a proper climate. Remainds me of a blue Sisyrinchium.
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Trond,
I find myself surprised that I am familiar with a few plants you have shown. Salvia leucodermis is grown in the mild parts of California.
The report continues to be fascinating. Thank you for sharing.
Robert,
I was also a bit surprised to find plants I was quite familiar with and plants actually native to Norway too! But most were unknown, at least at the species level.
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The rock formations are also of great interest. This is just a treat, Trond!!
Maggi, I was sorry I couldn't bring some rocks back! They had made the best rock garden ever ;D
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Trond, in the last pictures above, it looks like one of your plants is a species of Xerophyta. I tried growing Xerophyta viscosa, but without any clues on how to do it right, ended up with no seedlings.
Thanks Gordon, you are right! I had neither heard of the genus Xerophyta nor the family Velloziaceae before! But the plants fit perfectly in that genus, although the species is a bit more difficult. About 10 species are described from the area but about 25 are still undescribed!
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I am having a very enjoyable armchair journey Trond ;D
Aristea would make a nice rock garden plant for those gardening in a proper climate. Remainds me of a blue Sisyrinchium.
Me too - but I am sitting in the sofa ;) 2 species of Sisyrinchium are known from Madagascar!
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Trond, your pictures reminded me of Brazilian Vellozia spp. which are reputed to be tricky to grow.
Doubtless there is some expertise among forumists ;) ;D
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Trond, your pictures reminded me of Brazilian Vellozia spp. which are reputed to be tricky to grow.
Doubtless there is some expertise among forumists ;) ;D
Ashley, Vellozia is not known from Madagascar according to Tropicos: Catalogue of the vascular plants of Madagascar. But some species are moved to Xerophyta though.
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These Malagasy cousins are new to me, but Mauro Peixoto shows pictures of several Brazilian ones here (http://www.brazilplants.com/velloziaceae/fotovelloziaceae.html), and even lists seed (http://www.brazilplants.com/Seeds.html) 8)
According to Bart Simpson 'Trying is the first step toward failure' so I'm fighting the temptation ;) ;D
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I remember inviting Quentin Bloxham, then curator of reptiles at Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, to give a talk on Madagascar (he was a tour guide in his spare time) at a reptile symposium at The Burrell in the early 90s. His opening slide caused him some embarrassment as it showed a man standing on one leg with arms up, with a land crab with its claws in a similar pose. The reason he blushed was the man in question, who is a regular at SRGC shows, was in the audience.
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These Malagasy cousins are new to me, but Mauro Peixoto shows pictures of several Brazilian ones here (http://www.brazilplants.com/velloziaceae/fotovelloziaceae.html), and even lists seed (http://www.brazilplants.com/Seeds.html) 8)
According to Bart Simpson 'Trying is the first step toward failure' so I'm fighting the temptation ;) ;D
I would love to grow some ofthose plants - outside ::) But that is impossible I think, at least where I live now!
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Lunch - and a very welcome shade 8)
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The kitchen was in full sun :o
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A Kalanchoë sp with last years flower.
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Aloe capitata.
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Something looking like a blueberry bush, but I have found no Ericaceae that fits it. The flowers tasted not bad and was good for an upset stomach!
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We are at about 2000m. We have to cross a few watercourses. Some small plants catch my attention. No idea what it is.
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A drought resistant Senecio I presume!
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Also a plant for wet places - Drosera sp.
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Almost submerged - but unknown. Edit: reminds me of a Crassula although it has only 4 petals.
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A Lamiaceae. Edit: Reminds me of an Ajuga
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Trond,
If I understand correctly even at 2,000 meters the climate is subtropical? It also looks like the climate is dry subtropical or at least only seasonally moist? All the lush looking sites seem to be near year round water of some sort. In some ways, some of your photographs remind me of the dry western parts of India.
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Nice when you can recognize at least the family ;D
The one looking like a blueberry remainds me after the calyx of a Brachyotum from Andes (with larger flowers and another colour). It may fit in the Madagascar climate, but you do the research I have lots to sow :)
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Could your blueberry bush type thing be Melastomataceae ~ there's something about the leaves that makes me suggest that...
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Could your blueberry bush type thing be Melastomataceae ~ there's something about the leaves that makes me suggest that...
Nice when you can recognize at least the family ;D
The one looking like a blueberry remainds me after the calyx of a Brachyotum from Andes (with larger flowers and another colour). It may fit in the Madagascar climate, but you do the research I have lots to sow :)
Thanks for the suggestions! I have considered Melastromataceae but I still think it is an Ericaceae. Both Agarista and Vaccinium (especially the first genus) has some species rather similar to "my" plant. The petals were fused and the corolla was superior.
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Trond,
If I understand correctly even at 2,000 meters the climate is subtropical? It also looks like the climate is dry subtropical or at least only seasonally moist? All the lush looking sites seem to be near year round water of some sort. In some ways, some of your photographs remind me of the dry western parts of India.
Robert,
Although the climate is subtropical to tropical at the coast, at 2000m altitude it is cool nights, at least in the dry period with occasional frost at night. Even in Antsirabe at 1500m it can be frost at night in winter.
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Robert,
Although the climate is subtropical to tropical at the coast, at 2000m altitude it is cool nights, at least in the dry period with occasional frost at night. Even in Antsirabe at 1500m it can be frost at night in winter.
Trond,
Thank you for the information. Some of the photographs remind me of California. It appears that some of the species might even grow here - or at least Coastal California / Southern California.
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Robert, I think you can grow several of the high altitude species from Madagascar!
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Late one night we started out in the light of our head torches. We reached the summit of Imarivolanitra (Pic Boby) 2658m in time for the sunrise. No difficult climbing, only very steep some places.
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When the light broadened I suddenly noticed a plant under a rock just at the summit, 2m to the left of us when sitting there for the picture!
It was a very pretty Kalanchoë. I have not put a species name to it yet, it is at least 67 species to consider! I found it several places there but only near the summit and literally under slabs of rock, well protected from the harsh environment.
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A bit farther down the path I discovered this orchid in full bloom - the only one we saw on the whole trip! It was also growing underneath a rock but the roots were firmly anchored in the roof! An Angraecum species - it is more than 100 of this genus alone there.
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A shrub that had looked completely dry on the way up proved to have but one big flower! Not easy to put a name to though!Edit: Dombeya, possibly macrantha
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A Clematis, which also had been in flower farther down, had also found a crevice here.
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Robert, I think you can grow several of the high altitude species from Madagascar!
Trond,
Something for me to consider.
Leaving for the summit with head touches reminds me of summit day from the south col of Everest (not that I have ever been there). I seems your summit day was much easier than Everest and, in addition, there were many interesting plants to enjoy. My understand is that there is not much in the way of flora even at the Everest base camp.
Your last batch of photographs were extremely interesting. The view and mountains from the summit must have been spectacular! The orange flowering species reminds me of Abutilon, however, to me, the view inside the flower looks nothing like a Malvaceae. We have some very talented forumist - somebody will have an idea as to its identification.
Thank you for sharing all of the photographs! :)
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from this post on previous page:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13791.msg346415#msg346415 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13791.msg346415#msg346415)
A shrub that had looked completely dry on the way up proved to have but one big flower! Not easy to put a name to though!
Could this be Dombeya macrantha?
edit by maggi to add link to relevant post.
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Trond,
Something for me to consider.
. . . ..
Robert,
it is maybe more difficult to obtain plants/seeds than to grow them!
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Could this be Dombeya macrantha?
edit by maggi to add link to relevant post.
Malcolm, I think you are right; at least the genus is right. More than 180 species of Dombeya are described from Madagascar!
Thanks!
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Down from the higher realms through the heathland. More than 35 species of Erica are known from the island and we spot at least 5 different species along our path. They are highly inflammable but regrow easily from the stumps.
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A lone scorched tree slowly regenerates while the heath has regrown from a previous wildfire.
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Everywhere Helichrysum species were mixed with the heath.
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The thicker stems of the heath were covered by moss, lichen and other plants like this woody stemmed epiphyte.
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Some plants, like the Salvia, had benefited from the fire.
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Here and there also other shrubs were mixed with the heath.
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Gradually the trees became thicker and with more and more growth on the trunks. Especially orchids were common, but we were a few months too early to see them in flower.
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A patch of rainforest mixed with drier forest.
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Close to 1000 different speciesof orchids are known - and I spotted several, maybe 100 different ones.
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Almost in full flower!
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The only cactus native to Africa: Rhipsalis baccifera. The subspecies in Madagascar are sometimes called R. madagascariensis. It is variable and I spotted it in several different locations.
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The flowers are rather tiny!
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Wonderful epiphytes and other plants Trond 8)
Was the hanging lichen on that 'lone scorched tree' something like the Usnea species we see in temperate rainforest?
This article 'Vegetation of Malagasy inselbergs' (https://books.google.ie/books?id=3O3vCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA263&lpg=PA263&dq=usnea+madagascar&source=bl&ots=rhJdxUSeN0&sig=WbBTxtG_faVha5KhpuzWFzDnX5w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju1Zv28OPJAhVFlQ8KHWJ9BJkQ6AEIOzAI#v=onepage&q=usnea%20madagascar&f=false) is rather interesting.
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Thanks Ashley :)
yes, I think it is Usnea - several species are known from Madagascar.
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Trond,
Some of the terrain reminds me of the chaparral plant communities here in California. It appears that fire is an important factor, just as it is here.
How quickly did the climatic conditions change to one that appears to have more moisture? Exposure? Did you hike over the mountain? Maybe other factors, like a river, or a different soil type?
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Thanks again for the photo-journey Trond! Superb images, of course I particularly like the mountains ;)
That white epiphytic orchid attached on the rock - wow!!!
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Trond,
Some of the terrain reminds me of the chaparral plant communities here in California. It appears that fire is an important factor, just as it is here.
How quickly did the climatic conditions change to one that appears to have more moisture? Exposure? Did you hike over the mountain? Maybe other factors, like a river, or a different soil type?
Robert,
I can imagine that it looks more like California than Norway ;)
The climate changed very quickly when we descended down into the valley. The landscape here is criss-crossed by rivers and creeks, most held water all year. I believe the forest covered a greater area before humans entered 300 years ago. Then a calf-sized grazing/browsing lemur and a big flightless bird were the dominant herbivores in this area. The forest is still threatened by wildfires although it is part of a national park.
We did not cross the mountains but we descended along another route than we ascended. The soil consisted mostly of degraded granite but with a fair amount of organic matter. My guess is that the soil is acidic.
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Thanks again for the photo-journey Trond! Superb images, of course I particularly like the mountains ;)
That white epiphytic orchid attached on the rock - wow!!!
You are welcome, Gabriela!
It was also a plethora of ferns (most evergreens I presume) everywhere ;)
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More from the rainforest:
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The canopy was interwoven by long, flowering lianas which turned out to be Strongylodon craveniae, a pea relative.
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Close up it is easy to see it belongs to the pea family.
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The stems were covered by moss of course, orchids, ferns and a lot of other plants. This I believe is a Selaginella sp.
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A little rest in the shade . . .
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A gecko chameleon preferred the hiking pole to the trees.
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Just outside the border of the national park - and the trees were cut and burnt.
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The local bridges.
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A farm.
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Some places the meadows were literally covered by this clematis (we have seen it before Clematis falciformis). According to the locals it sprouts always after the grass has been burnt just before the wet season.
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A little village.
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In the dusk the fauna changed. Some of the shrubs were occupied by hoards of spiders. Some were rather big, at least 10cm. Probably Nephila madagascariensis.
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They snared unfortunate big flying beetles.
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That gecko is actually another chameleon.
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That gecko is actually another chameleon.
OK. Thanks. How do you see the difference?
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The valleys were extensively farmed everywhere. Along the rivers and creeks paddies occupied every square inch.
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View of a valley. A foreign tree, Jacaranda, was planted along the roads many places.
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Blue water-lilies filled this small lake - Nymphaea caerula.
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OK. Thanks. How do you see the difference?
The quickest way is to check out the feet.
Chameleons have fused toes (3+2 on the front feet & 2+3 on the back) which creates a pincer-like gripping hand whilst Day Geckos, Uroplatus, etc have toe pads such that their feet look like miniature suction pads. The body shape, long prehensile tail & bulbous eyes of chameleons are also distinct.
I can't be certain but I think the chameleon on the climbing pole is a Calumma brevicornis (Elephant Ear Chameleon) as I can just about make out the nape flaps on this dorsal view.
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Trond,
The contrast between the rain forest and the cleared areas is quite intense, at least for me. My heart feels sad. It seems that the flora and fauna suffers and most likely the humans too. I am sure that most are optimistic that the situation there will turn out just fine, however I am not one of those. :'(
I appreciated the comment about how the Clematis falciformis sprouts / or comes into growth after a fire. I think that I will give my seed a smoke treatment. It can not hurt and it might improve germination. As of today there is no action in the seed pan.
I will have to wait on the smoke treatment as it rained all night and heavy rain is expected today and tonight. Maybe our rainfall totals will get back to average to-date. :) This time of year we generally get a fair amount of precipitation. We will need to get over 100 mm just to stay average to-date - as of the end of December. Right now it is relatively warm with very high snow levels, 6,000 to 6,500 feet (1,829 to 1,981 meters). .... then snow is excepted even here at the farm by Thursday - 1,500 feet (457 meters). :)
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Few years ago I was lucky to catch Strongylodon macrobotrys in flower at NY Botanical Garden and I thought it was the most splendid flowering vine.
But it seems its yellow counterpart is equally beautiful!
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The quickest way is to check out the feet.
Chameleons have fused toes (3+2 on the front feet & 2+3 on the back) which creates a pincer-like gripping hand whilst Day Geckos, Uroplatus, etc have toe pads such that their feet look like miniature suction pads. The body shape, long prehensile tail & bulbous eyes of chameleons are also distinct.
I can't be certain but I think the chameleon on the climbing pole is a Calumma brevicornis (Elephant Ear Chameleon) as I can just about make out the nape flaps on this dorsal view.
Yes, I got it! (Actually I remembered that I have heard it before when you told me :))
Like this:
a gecko
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a chameleon
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Trond,
The contrast between the rain forest and the cleared areas is quite intense, at least for me. My heart feels sad. It seems that the flora and fauna suffers and most likely the humans too. I am sure that most are optimistic that the situation there will turn out just fine, however I am not one of those. :'(
I appreciated the comment about how the Clematis falciformis sprouts / or comes into growth after a fire. I think that I will give my seed a smoke treatment. It can not hurt and it might improve germination. As of today there is no action in the seed pan.
I will have to wait on the smoke treatment as it rained all night and heavy rain is expected today and tonight. Maybe our rainfall totals will get back to average to-date. :) This time of year we generally get a fair amount of precipitation. We will need to get over 100 mm just to stay average to-date - as of the end of December. Right now it is relatively warm with very high snow levels, 6,000 to 6,500 feet (1,829 to 1,981 meters). .... then snow is excepted even here at the farm by Thursday - 1,500 feet (457 meters). :)
Robert,
I feel very sad when I think of the deforestation occurring in Madagascar and other parts of the world.
The flora and fauna suffer of course - and the humans will in the future. But when you see it with your own eyes and talk to the people you understand why. A big tree in a forest have no value if you need money to buy something to keep your family alive and healthy and let the children attend school. Then you cut down the tree and make furniture, wooden beams or just charcoal of it to sell. All the orchids and other living things in the tree have no value at all. In the open space you can plant cassava, banana or other edible plants for food. As long as the population increases and with no other way to exploit the forest, this will continue.
Hope you are lucky with the seed! Mine has not germinated either but I wouldn't expect it to happen before spring as they are in a cool place now.
Seems you will get a lot of rain today and on the 24th :) We have gotten 100mm/4" in two days. The city of Bergen just north of us will set a new all time high this year - more than 3m/10' of precipitation ;D
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I could be wrong, but that gecko looks very like Phelsuma standingi. I used to breed it in Scotland. It's the only blue Phelsuma sp. I know of.
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Few years ago I was lucky to catch Strongylodon macrobotrys in flower at NY Botanical Garden and I thought it was the most splendid flowering vine.
But it seems its yellow counterpart is equally beautiful!
Gabriela,
You should have seen it! It was quite a sight with those flowering garlands hanging between the trees ;) The forest floor was covered by spent flowers.
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I could be wrong, but that gecko looks very like Phelsuma standingi. I used to breed it in Scotland. It's the only blue Phelsuma sp. I know of.
I don't think that's Ph. standingi as it looks too fine-featured. It could be Ph. dubia.
Wild Ph. standingi is range-restricted being confined to the dry southwest of Madagascar (Andranolaho and Sakaraha).
Ph. dubia is quite adaptable & has spread to a number of places on the west of Madagascar as well as being found on the Comoros, Zanzibar and even the Tanzanian coast.
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I don't think that's Ph. standingi as it looks too fine-featured. It could be Ph. dubia.
Wild Ph. standingi is range-restricted being confined to the dry southwest of Madagascar (Andranolaho and Sakaraha).
Ph. dubia is quite adaptable & has spread to a number of places on the west of Madagascar as well as being found on the Comoros, Zanzibar and even the Tanzanian coast.
Picture is taken in the wild, in Isalo National Park near Maki Canyon, Ihorombe region. According to the map the site is inside the area of Ph. standingi. It was also rather big.
We spotted several of this much smaller species, many places. It was too quick for me!
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Gabriela,
You should have seen it! It was quite a sight with those flowering garlands hanging between the trees ;) The forest floor was covered by spent flowers.
I would have climbed the trees for sure! You are right, you have to see it in the real to understand. At NYBG the flowers were hanging low in the Glasshouse and so I touch them (although not allowed :( just to make sure they were real!
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Picture is taken in the wild, in Isalo National Park near Maki Canyon, Ihorombe region. According to the map the site is inside the area of Ph. standingi. It was also rather big.
We spotted several of this much smaller species, many places. It was too quick for me!
(Attachment Link)
If taken in Isalo NP then I think Anthony is correct & this is a young Ph. standingi.
The smaller species is probably Ph. lineata.
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I had not quite finished when Christmas arrived but it is not many left to show.
More from the rainforest - all unknown.
Along the road, not a real forest dweller.
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A little tarn.
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It was a lot of creeks and rivers in the rainforests.
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A rather big Selaginella relative in the shade forest floor.
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Often the flowers are high up in the canopy but some do it another way.
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An unexpected Sisyrinchium-like plant. I don't know whether it is native or not.
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View.
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Orchids and cactus on the trunks.
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A fig tree. Fruits directly on the trunk.
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Probably Dichaetanthera sp
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Frogs.
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Fruit bats.
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Did you put the bats at the end on purpose Trond? I scrolled down expecting another cute, colorful frog and I got startled by those big eyes! :o
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An unexpected Sisyrinchium-like plant. I don't know whether it is native or not.
From the appearance of the seed capsule I'd suspect it's another Aristea.
I hope none of those frogs were the poisonous skinned type! :o
cheers
fermi
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More great images Trond!!!
The wee puddocks (frogs) are Mantellas.
The one on the leaf looks like Mantella betsileo whilst the other is Mantella pulchra. There are about 15 described Mantella species; a few produce cutaneous toxins like the better-known South American Dendrobates (Poison-dart frogs). At least one of the Mantella sp. (Mantella laevigata) has complex breeding behaviour involving individual tadpole care where the tadpoles are sequestered in tiny pools of water and are fed non-fertilised eggs by their mother whilst the male guards the territory and moves any tadpoles when their personal pool is at risk of drying out. Sadly all of the Mantellas are threatened by habitat destruction and alien anuran fungal infections.
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Did you put the bats at the end on purpose Trond? I scrolled down expecting another cute, colorful frog and I got startled by those big eyes! :o
Yes, of course I did ;D
Here's a few more for you.
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From the appearance of the seed capsule I'd suspect it's another Aristea.
I hope none of those frogs were the poisonous skinned type! :o
cheers
fermi
Yes, I was thinking of that. The flowers were not quite like a Sisyrinchium.
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The guide picked the frogs up so I don't think they were very dangerous.
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More great images Trond!!!
The wee puddocks (frogs) are Mantellas.
The one on the leaf looks like Mantella betsileo whilst the other is Mantella pulchra. There are about 15 described Mantella species; a few produce cutaneous toxins like the better-known South American Dendrobates (Poison-dart frogs). At least one of the Mantella sp. (Mantella laevigata) has complex breeding behaviour involving individual tadpole care where the tadpoles are sequestered in tiny pools of water and are fed non-fertilised eggs by their mother whilst the male guards the territory and moves any tadpoles when their personal pool is at risk of drying out. Sadly all of the Mantellas are threatened by habitat destruction and alien anuran fungal infections.
Thanks Steve.
It was not easy to picture the frogs as they tried to leap all the time. We spotted several frogs, often inside big plants like Pandanus sp. with water captured in the rosette.
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Leaf tailed geckos. We did disturb them so the camouflage do not fit very well!
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We also spotted several snakes. None are dangerous to humans though (we were told).
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The biggest lemur, Indri indri. It has a very loud song which we heard standing only a few meters away :o Even with only a short tail it was a extremely skilled climber and leapt several meters from tree to tree.
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Bamboo lemur.
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Conks. I had expected more fungi than we found but maybe it was too early in the season.
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Sifaka lemurs.
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Tried this position when eating?
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Black eyed Susan Thunbergia alata is a native of eastern Africa but spread to all over the world.
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Last stop before going home.
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When we arrived in Antananarivo we were met by a thunderstorm and flood. We were anxious not to reach our plane but this kind of weather is normal in the rainy season so our guide said "calm down" :o
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End of story - and we hit the flight :)
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It looks like you have two species of Leaf-tailed Gecko there Trond. The second image is I think
Uroplatus sikorae whilst the first shows two adult Uroplatus fimbriatus.
I think the snake is a Madagascar Ground boa (probably Acrantophis madagascariensis but perhaps Acrantophis dumerili). Strangely Madagascar has no pythons. The large constricting snakes on the island are Boas and are related to the Neotropical Boa Constrictor & Anacondas. They produce live young rather than laying eggs. The presence of Boas on Madagascar is one of the many puzzles of the biology of this bizarre "lost continent".
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A remarkable report of this trip to such an interesting place. I am so pleased, Trond, that you have included photos of the animals as well - it helps to round out the picture we have gained of Madagascar. Thank you!
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Trond,
I am back in town for a few days before having to leave again.
I am glad that I caught the tail end of your interesting adventure to Madagascar. It was all so fascinating, even the animals. Both the flora and fauna of Madagascar are very foreign to me and now I know a little bit more. Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us.
8)
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Thank you Maggi and Robert for kind words :)
And Steve, thank you for the names!
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A job very well done Trond.
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A job very well done Trond.
Thanks David :)
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Late but I hope not too late -
many thanks for this picturesque description - enjoyed it a lot!
Gerd
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Late but I hope not too late -
many thanks for this picturesque description - enjoyed it a lot!
Gerd
Well, I am not dead yet, Gerd ;D
You are welcome :)
BTW I have some nice viola plants now. Both species germinated well ;)
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Trond:
Just saw this on TV. The presenter is a world traveling chef.
He actually grew up in my town. Had a bit of a sordid past.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/17/travel/bourdain-madagascar-travel-journal/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/17/travel/bourdain-madagascar-travel-journal/index.html)