Madagascar November 2015

[Hoy]

Trond, your pictures reminded me of Brazilian Vellozia spp. which are reputed to be tricky to grow. 
Doubtless there is some expertise among forumists

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.

[ashley]

These Malagasy cousins are new to me, but Mauro Peixoto shows pictures of several Brazilian ones here, and even lists seed
According to Bart Simpson 'Trying is the first step toward failure' so I'm fighting the temptation

[Anthony Darby]

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.

[Hoy]

These Malagasy cousins are new to me, but Mauro Peixoto shows pictures of several Brazilian ones here, and even lists seed
According to Bart Simpson 'Trying is the first step toward failure' so I'm fighting the temptation

I would love to grow some ofthose plants - outside   But that is impossible I think, at least where I live now!

[Hoy]

Lunch - and a very welcome shade




The kitchen was in full sun




A Kalanchoë sp with last years flower.




Aloe capitata.




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!

[Hoy]

We are at about 2000m. We have to cross a few watercourses. Some small plants catch my attention. No idea what it is.




A drought resistant Senecio I presume!




Also a plant for wet places - Drosera sp.




Almost submerged - but unknown. Edit: reminds me of a Crassula although it has only 4 petals.




A Lamiaceae. Edit: Reminds me of an Ajuga

[Robert]

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.

[Gabriela]

Nice when you can recognize at least the family
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 

[majallison]

Could your blueberry bush type thing be Melastomataceae ~ there's something about the leaves that makes me suggest that...

[Hoy]

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
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.

[Hoy]

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.

[Robert]

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.

[Hoy]

Robert, I think you can grow several of the high altitude species from Madagascar!

[Hoy]

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.








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.

[Hoy]

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.






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






A Clematis, which also had been in flower farther down, had also found a crevice here.