Sjølitjernet i Skogbygda er omkranset av myr og sumpaktig landskap der mange myrbundne arter som myrvieren trives. Hele bestanden av myrvier er sterkt preget av elgens beiting gjennom flere år. Naturlig utbredelse i subantaktisk og temperert nordlige halvkule.
My first and only encounter of this species of vine on Socotra. A large and vital specimen, growing in the cracks of a vertical cliff by a creek where it was partly hanging, partly climbing. It is a shady and moist location, sheltered by the sun most of the day. Elevation: 240 meters. Endemic.
This is a species that is quite hard to get up and close with as it is a vertical cliff specialist. This was no exception, except that there was a way for me to climb to it without taking a big risk. The foliage of this individual is wide, shiny and vibrant, a sign of […]
A vibrant, healthy and quite tall Punica protopunica, found next to the walls of the north east of Socotra. These vertical cliffs provide shade and moisture for much longer than the exposed part of Socotra, and thus the species that grow here, next to the wall, are very healthy. Endemic.
The shape of the leaves provides information that this is a species and an individual with a huge growth potential. This is a twining plant that can grow to several meters in length. However, this seedling set root in an shallow crack in the limestone. Unless its roots can reach deep enough to reach the […]
The vertical cliffs of Socotra are very important safe havens for many plant species as there they are safe from goats. Thus they are able to grow and disperse seeds. This was my very first encounter of this species and at this location I found many individuals in a small area. All growing in cracks […]
The vertical cliffs of the north-east Socotra are home to many plant species that thrive in the protective shadow of the tall cliffs, which also provide water seeping out of cracks long after the winter rains. During my visit I walked in a field of flowers tall and vital from all the winter rains, which […]
The fact that species of orchids are found on Socotra is a testament to the wealth of opportunities for life here. At first glance it is an arid island, yet there is always water present. Some locations all year round, others after the winter rains. This is the most common of the orchids on Socotra, […]
This tree is not bearing flowers or fruits, but when in fruit the Socotris will collect what they can as this is a popular fruit. Unfortunately I have yet to taste it. Native range is Africa, Arabia to Pakistan. Elevation: 94 meters.
An introduced species that spreads from gardens, and date groves.
A mature and healthy specimen of boswellia elongata, but alone and without any seedlings nearby. This lack of regeneration is a long standing problem all over Socotra as the goats eat all the seedlings, effectively preventing the next generation from establishing. Thus this mature tree will sooner, rather than later die of old age and […]
A large and mature specimen with signs of past droughts as many branches were dead. This is a species found in drier areas in Socotra, on cliffs along valleys and canyons near water. Also found in countries in western-southwestern Africa and Arabia. Elevation: 479 meters.
This is a common species wherever there is water, which translates to cracks and crevices, often on vertical canyon walls (wadis) were there is water seepage, and alongside streams, springs and pools. If you take care and use your sense of smell, you will sense the sweet scent of it before you see it. In […]
In years of drought the huge number of goats on Socotra will eat anything that will not cause discomfort or poisoning. In years with sufficient moisture, they will first and foremost eat grasses. This winter (2022/23) has seen a considerable amount of rain and thus excellent conditions for grasses and all flora. For this specimen […]
A beautiful specimen, vibrant with life and energy due to sufficient moisture this winter. It is endemic, which means it grows nowhere else on Earth. This is at 900 meter elevation. Endemic.
This is perhaps the most impressive of all the rhododendron species I encountered during my travel in Bhutan. Not because it was such a huge specimen, it was in fact a young bush which made these flowers accessible to me, as mature plants have their inflorescences too high to reach. Not because it had such […]
My previous encounter of this species was carrying one inflorescence with flowers just opening, but was exceedingly hard to get up and close to. I was naturally exhilarated to be able to encounter wonderful specimens here that I could touch and admire as close as I wanted. This very location was a veritable garden with […]
I only found this species in one specific location on Skand (or Skand) – the highest point on all of Socotra. Elevation: 1480 meters.
On the highest peaks of Socotra you’ll find magnificent deciduous trees like this one. Some were finished shedding leaves whilst others were in yellows or reds like the temperate autumns. Endemic.
Close to the top of Socotra, Skand (or Skand) I found some healthy plants of this species under some trees, which was a relief as all the previous I saw on the way up here were either drooping from lack of water or were browsed by goats. Endemic.
This plant is so small that it’s very easy to miss! On the field below the weather station of Skand I found many of them growing under trees. Endemic.
I found many of this species on top of Socotra – Skand (or Skand), but few with good flowers as it was nearing the end of the season. Endemic.
The wooly leaves makes this plant easy to identify year round. Endemic.
A most peculiar inflorescence, but with with very attractive color! I found only two plants with this stage of flowering and fresh leaves seen here – all other were passed bloom. Again the top of Socotra – Skand (or Skand) was the very last range for the season, as on lower altitudes the dry season […]
A most peculiar plant! I only found this plant with fresh flowers, but unfortunately not with open flowers yet. I found it in very steep terrain close to the top of Skand (Skand). Here the goats seemed to have been unable to destroy the vegetation, so it was exceptionally dense and varied.
Libinhania rosulata is a cushion plant, but appears here to be a small tree! This is deceptive as as closer look reveals it’s two species, where the libinhania rosulata is growing atop a dead and unknown species. How the libinhania rosulata has been able to grow for so long atop another plant is really interesting […]
Never in my entire life have I seen hypericum grow as dense and tall shrubs as on top of Socotra (Skand)! I was mesmerized by the abundance of plants and flowers, and also relieved that goats leave at least this species alone. Endemic.
Resembles Convolvulus sarmentosus, but its petals are rounded outwards opposed to this one which are flattened and pointing inwards at the mid-nerve of the petals.
I wish I had a week on top of Socotra as there are so incredibly many magnificent plants species and many grow only on socotra! This was the only specimen I could find on Skand (Skand), but with more days I’m certain I would have found magnificent speciemens if I could have climbed where goats […]
With or without flowers, I find this plant really beautiful as it spreads out over the rocks of Socotras highest peaks. This was one of very few with inflorescences – on the very highest mountain of Socotra – Skand. Endemic.
This species grows to the size of small trees, and this one is just a few meters from the highest point of Socotra – Skand (or Skand). Endemic
When I suddenly stood in front of a hypericum tree, my heart jumped an extra beat and I jumped towards it in awe to make sure I did not hallucinate! This plant is close to 3 meters tall and is not only endangered due to it’s endemism and very limited range but must be of […]
To find Lavender on Socotra was not expected, and my mindset was on this being an invasive or at least non-endemic species. But endemic it is! Again most were completely eaten by goats, but I managed to find one that was partly intact, with at least one inflorescence. Endemic.
The unmistakable silhouette of the most famous of all plant species on Socotra. I stayed here for two nights, and what an amazing place – a forest of dragon blood trees! It’s like being in Jurassic park without the dinosaurs!
All specimens of this species were heavily grazed by goats, so I was very happy to find this plant which had intact and healthy growth. Endemic.
An incredible plant growing to small trees here in Stera of south Socotra. Earlier this morning I saw “bleeding” on the trunks and branches of these plants, and realized it was water. I thought it was moisture caught during the night. It was as salt as it gets! These plants stand tall and strong here […]
A huge trunk with seemingly feeble branches – what a strange plant indeed. This adaptation means it can grow tender and mist leaves at any time – even at the height of the dry season. The trunk stores plenty of moisture for many lean times. Endemic
I found this species on the scorching hot plain at sea level in the north by the road to Dixam, as well as higher up on around 800 meters elevation. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂
I found very few with flowers, and only this one with a health flower and intact foliage. All plants were stunted due to heavy grazing by goats. Endemic.
Right outside Hoq cave in the northeast of Socotra I found many plant species benefiting from the water dripping from the cave, orchids and ferns like this one. further away from the opening and the drought is way underway with most plants now drooping or already completely crisp and dried.
For me the trail to the Hoq cave was so much more interesting than the cave itself, as here you’ll see incredible specimens of so many endemic species like the dirichletia obovata which I did not encounter elsewhere during my 14 day journey throughout the island.
These were located alongside the stream between the dunes of Arher in the north of Socotra. Endemic.
Resembles helichrysum gracilipes, but I’ve not found documentation on a wide variation on the inflorescence or leaves – only color variation of pink to white flowers. This one has a symmetrical flower, opposed to asymmetrical or zygomorphic in gracilipes, and leaf-tip (on stem) is pointed, opposed to rounded on gracilipes Please help me identify it […]
A slender and fragile plant with flowers I’m surprised were not eaten by the goats. I found it on my way to Hoq cave – quite close to the opening, so moisture was still available for the plants to complete flowering.
A variable species I encountered on several coastal locales. This is not far from the Arher sand dunes in the north-east.
A very hardy plant that I found commonly in the Arher area in the north-east where it grows close to the ocean and thus the salt. Endemic.
Yet another species in the fabaceae family and quite common too. This is from the Arher sea-side in the north-east. Please help me identify it – leave a comment.
I had to look far and wide to find a plant with flowers, as they all seemed past their prime flowering season, but at least I did find this one which also had health leaves, albeit on a stunted plant due to the goats! Endemic.
This is high up on one of the dunes in Arher on the northeast coast of Socotra. This was the only one of its species here, and it has survived change in a way that’s quite remarkable. For one this place is sandblasted for months, during which this is not a place even for humans. […]
Found widespread on and around the Arher sand dunes and varies between all white or yellow or something in between. It resembles H. wagneri and H. shoabense, but the two have a very limited range.
The sand dunes of Erissel – the Socotra east cape – have some very specialized plants thriving in the wind-swept sand. This species was in some places growing in dense mats. This location is windswept and hot, with only rain or brackish water available, but this is a specialist.
The sand dunes of Erissel – the Socotra east cape – have some very specialized plants thriving in the wind-swept sand. This species was in some places growing so dense that it seemed like a silvery thicket. This location is windswept and hot, with only rain or brackish water available, but this is a specialist […]
This flower of this species is so elusive! I found one flower, and marked the spot so I would find it when I returned with my camera. Alas! I did not find it. It’s color is very similar to the ground in which it grows, and it’s so slender and skinny that even fully opened […]
The most beautiful stage of this species, as when it’s fully grown it’s rather spindly and easily overlooked. Found near the Arher sand dunes. Endemic.
The specimens I found close to the beach were small and early in their development of inflorescences, which is perhaps the most beautiful stage of any plant.
Like so many plant species on Socotra, this species can get a foothold on bare rock!
The entirety of this cucumber plant is really fascinating, and I’ve never seen it before. This is likely Cucumis prophetarum ssp dissectum, as it is more lobed than the Cucumis prophetarum ssp prophetarum
This one I found on the riverside of Kalesan gorge, which means it must endure flash floods – impressive!
I found this species only in this location during my two week stay on Socotra. It grows in a crack in the rock face of the Kalesan gorge – out of reach for the goats and thus protected. But come the annual monsoons and it will be in a torrent of water and debris grinding […]
I found this species only in this location during my two week stay on Socotra. It grows in a crack in the rock face of the Kalesan gorge – out of reach for the goats and thus protected. But come the annual monsoons and it will be in a torrent of water and debris grinding […]
I found this species on dry riverbeds.
I found this species in only one place, on the most inaccessible sheer cliffs alongside a river gorge – not even the goats can destroy this one! The inflorescence here is flat, flowers radiating outwards due to the unfavorable conditions here. The inflorescence is normally up to 10 centimeters long or more. See here for […]
Perhaps the most common shrub on Socotra. In many places it dominates the landscape with forest-like growth, reaching several meters tall. It varies in appearance from shrubs with small leaves to small trees with larger leaves. White bark is another variation found in higher altitudes. While traveling around the island you’ll find this species in […]
It’s amazing how localized the rain and climate is on this island, and when it comes to this species I was about to give up, as all were long past blooming season, and none had any sign of stalks. Except this one on my way to the dragon blood tree forest. It had flowers and […]
I found several plants of this species, but only this one with vital flowers and with really beautiful leaves. It stands on the bare face of a rock overlooking a river valley (Wadi Kalesan) in the northeast of Socotra. Endemic.
Very soft to the touch. In addition the hairs reflect sunlight, perhaps to significantly reduce water evaporation and overheating during growth. Endemic.
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
The inflorescence can grow very long, and this one was at least 50 cm long protected as it was inside the huge Juncus socotranus. Otherwise this would have been consumed by the goats! I was in fact in luck to even find this excellent section of foliage!
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
This plant is one of many interesting species I found in a very small area in a valley at 320 meters altitude. A river runs through on the valley floor, supporting lots of more water demanding species, but just a few meters up the mountain slopes a rocky a harsher environment with lots of plant […]
I found very few still with flowers, but when in prime flowering season these mats will be all-white with flowers. At least I got a clear view of the leaves. Endemic.
Resembles helichrysum gracilipes, but I’ve not found documentation on a wide variation on the inflorescence or leaves – only color variation of pink to white flowers. This one has asymmetrical flower, opposed to asymmetrical or zygomorphic in gracilipes. I found it on my way to Hoq cave – quite close to the opening, so moisture […]
A very large species – at least 2 meters tall!
This one was growing alongside a small stream at around 300 meters above sea. Endemic.
This species is found in or alongside streams, and in some places form dense mats or even fields, completely dominating the floral expression. Here I only found a few scattered plants. Strangely these plants seem to be left alone by goats! I found a completely intact colony by the huge dunes in the north – […]
This species looks like a mix between Limonium sokotranum (long an circular leaves) and paulayanum (oval and wider than long leaves and leaves about half in length to the sokotranum), but is just a variation of paulayanum as the leaves are flat, opposed to the circular of the sokotranum. Endemic.
The mature specimens are gorgeous trees that provide shade from the scorching sun, as the dense crown has no leaves to shed. The tree bleeds a white substance when cut. As with many other endemic species on Socotra, this one survives the hardest of droughts, and even blossoms in the dry season. I visited during […]
Similar to trichocalyx orbiculatus which has orbicular leaves. Uncertain if this could be a variation of one species.
A beautiful specimen of the species found during my climb up the cliffs on the way to Shuab beach which was forming a dense mat.
Despite the white juice produced by this plant, the goats eat the plant and I was unable to find an untouched specimen – so the cut seen here is from grazing.
Linear leaves barely distinguishable unless you get up close. This was an untouched and healthy specimen growing out of the sheer cliff face, which is key to many species that are otherwise completely stunted due to the incessant grazing of the goats. There are many imposing cliff faces on the way to Shuab beach of […]
Less famous than the desert rose or bottle tree, but equally amazing with its oversized trunk compared to the tiny branches. The leaves can vary wildly on a tree. One branch had these extremely frizzy leaves resembling parsley, while the rest of the tree had broad, flat leaves. Endemic.
On the steep cliffs of west Socotra on the way to Shuab beach I found many interesting plants and some untouched by goats. This rather large specimen was still in great shape and would perhaps be able to make ripe seeds before the lack of water completely suspends all life. This is likely Cucumis prophetarum […]
Densely glandular on almost all of the plant. This keeps goats and insects away, and I have a great specimen to admire!
The cliffs on the way to Shuab beach of west Socotra have lots of interesting seemingly inaccessible locations for goats. At least it looks that way from the ocean. As I climbed I saw the sign of goats everywhere, but fortunately many small plants were in bloom like this one. I later realized that goats […]
In the northern end of Shuab beach the sheer cliffs provide shade and an extended period of cooler temperatures. This in turn provided me with the joy of seeing many plant species still in bloom and not drooping from lack of water.
Yet another excellent specimen of a plant species on Shuab beach of west Socotra. Non-glandular calyx and taller than 50 cm.
This is an incredible plant species which can grow dangling from sheer cliffs, but this one was growing on the beach of Shuab in the west of Socotra and thus easily accessible for my and my camera to capture the stunning flower. Here an example of its “acrobatic” abilities – this one is hanging over […]