Asteraceae | Morten Ross

Archive for 'Asteraceae'

Libinhania sphaerocephala UV

Very dull in UV compared to the many color variations in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s

Close to the top of Socotra, Skant (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. Aperture: ƒ/9 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: […]

Libinhania sphaerocephala

Pulicaria lanata UV

Dark center opposed to the all-yellow appearance in visible light – a typical Asteraceae! Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/80 s

Pulicaria lanata

The wooly leaves makes this plant easy to identify year round. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s

Pulicaria lanata

As I was getting closer to the highest of the Haghier (or Haggeher) mountains – Skant (or Skand) – I noticed this plant with wooly leaves, but none with flowers, or at least none with fresh flowers. On the very top, on Skant, I did find some that still not past blooming. Again I was […]

Libinhania rosulata – as a tree!

Contrary to available literature, this is not necessary a cushion plant, unless goats get to them. I found this specimen of epic proportions on a sheer cliff – unacessible to the goats. It was like a tree – perhaps many hundreds of years old. This is a typical example of how goats have transformed many […]

Libinhania rosulata UV

The tiny flowers are dark in UV light compared to the mellow cream in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s

Libinhania rosulata

With or without flowers, I find this plant really beautiful as it spreads out over the rocks of Socotras highest poeaks. This was one of very few with inflorescences – on the very highest mountain of Socotra – Skant. This is a younger specimen which at first will grow as a cushion plant, but if […]

Libinhania rosulata

As the island of Socotra is basically one big goat farm, there are very few plants that are not consumed, or at least stunted by their grazing. Several plant species are venomous while others emit sticky or foul tasting juice. This species has no such defense and is eaten by goats. Thus I was looking […]

Euryops arabicus UV

No surprise for this Asteraceae – dark in the center opposed to all yellow in visible light. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s

Euryops arabicus

At around 700 meter elevation this species start to appear alongside the road to Dixam, and on the plateau they are in some places so dense you can see the yellow of the flowers from far away. Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 320 Shutter speed: 1/640 s

Helichrysum sp

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 […]

Libinhania gracilipes

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. Aperture: ƒ/10 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/1600 s

Libinhania gracilipes

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. Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/640 s

Helichrysum sp

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 […]

Helichrysum sp.

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 […]

Helichrysum sp. UV

Nothing unusual in UV for this species. Please help me with positive id – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s

Helichrysum sp.

Resembles balfourii and paulayanum, but don’t have any reference on foliage. Please help me with positive id – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 250 Shutter speed: 1/1250 s

Launaea rhynchocarpa UV

As with most Asteraceaes also this one has a dark center in UV. Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s

Launaea rhynchocarpa

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. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 400 Shutter speed: 1/1000 s

Launaea rhynchocarpa

The only unharmed specimen I found of this species during my trek around the cliffs on the way to Shuab beach of west Socotra. All others were eaten by goats. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 400 Shutter speed: 1/1000 s

Socotra plant 02

On the hills overlooking the Detwah lagoon on the west coast of Socotra I found many interesting flowers, and luckily some not destroyed by goats. In a few days this location would have been bone dry, and I found many signs of the coming dry season as many small plants were drooping from lack of […]

Socotra plant 02 UV

A typical sight in UV for asteraceaes – same color in UV as in visible light, but very UV dark in the center. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s

Socotra plant 02

Aldama vernonioides

The protected areas of Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is a treasure trove of plant species, and I was like a kid in a candy store! Please help me Identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 2500 Shutter speed: 1/500 s

Aldama vernonioides

The protected areas of Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is a treasure trove of plant species, and I was like a kid in a candy store! The number of plant species is enormous, and I am really saddened by the fact that perhaps 90% of the cerrado has been destroyed. Please help me identify it […]

Chapada dos Guimaraes plant 01 UV

What a big surprise that this bright flower in visible light is completely dark in UV! Not even a lighter and a darker region. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 1000 Shutter speed: 1/80 s

Chapada dos Guimaraes plant 01

The protected areas of Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is a treasure trove of plant species, and I was like a kid in a candy store! Please help me identify it 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/160 s

Pantanal plant 51

My final plant encounter on my way out of Pantanal – a really beautiful color and my first of the species. Please help identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/800 s

Pantanal plant 51

My final plant encounter on my way out of Pantanal – a really beautiful color and my first of the species. Please help identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/1250 s

Aspilia sp UV

In UV the all-yellow we humans see, is not at all present. The size and shape of the dark centre can in many instances be a key component in identifying species that are very similar morphologically. Aperture: ƒ/5.6 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 1000 Shutter speed: 1/80 s

Aspilia sp

This species was in some places growing in large and dense populations along Cuiaba river and the rivers further into Jaguarland. Several times I wanted to photograph them but for some reason it never happened, and I was left with this small specimen in one of the swamps in SouthWild Pantanal. Please help me identify […]

Aspilia sp

Pantanal plant 36

This plant was growing on the side of Cuiaba river – very close to the water, and will likely be submerge in the coming weeks. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/400 s

Skogsalat (Mycelis muralis) UV

I UV lys er den ensfarget gule skogsalatblomsten langt fra ensfarget, og det er det som gjør det så spennende med fotografering i UV lys, for da kommer de unike signaturene frem som vi mennesker ikke ser. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 2000 Shutter speed: 1/160 s

Takhaukeskjegg (Crepis tectorum) UV

For mine øyne er dette en helt gul blomst, men atter igjen kommer det spennende nøyanser frem i UV lys og spesielt rundt sentrum av blomsten. For mange vil dette kanskje se ut som et kunstnerisk uttrykk, der jeg har fremhevet kronbladet i et ellers mer eller mindre svart og hvitt miljø. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: […]

Takhaukeskjegg (Crepis tectorum)

Det vokser mange spennende planter på de skrinne svabergene mot Bunnefjorden på tomten, og denne småvokste utgaven av takhaukeskjegg er en av de. Hadde mine øyne kunnet se UV lys ville jeg nok ha stoppet opp tidligere, for denne blomsten er ikke ensfarget i UV. Den minner om mange andre gule skjermplanter som skjermsveve, men […]

Skjermsveve (Hieracium umbellatum) UV

Skjermsveven er en sikker matkilde til insekter til langt på høsten og jeg passer på å vanne de så de blir frodige og fulle av blomster. Som med så mange kurvplanter, er også denne arten veldig forskjellig i UV. Faktisk er den flottere i UV enn i det synlige lyset der den fremstår som ensfarget […]

Macela (Achyrocline satureioides)

The very last couple of kilometres of road to the plateau of Itatiaia National Park is blocked by the park entrance, and even though you can drive to the camping site by the small dam, it’s not worth it! You’ll miss all the magnificent flora and fauna along the dirt road. In the rainy season […]

Macela (Achyrocline satureioides)

Itatiaia plant 28 (Asteraceae)

Baccharis curitybensis

Senecio oleosus

Senecio icoglossus

Leptostelma camposportoi

Tridax daisy (Tridax procumbens)

My last day at Pousada Xaraés, and finally some rain! Not torrential, but at least sufficient to get the ground wet and muddy in some places. As I’m soon to leave, I stay close to the buildings and find lots of plant species new to me. Aperture: ƒ/29 Camera: NIKON D3S Focal length: 210mm ISO: […]

Tridax daisy (Tridax procumbens)

My last day at Pousada Xaraés, and finally some rain! Not torrential, but at least sufficient to get the ground wet and muddy in some places. As I’m soon to leave, I stay close to the buildings and find lots of plant species new to me. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D3S Focal length: 210mm ISO: […]

Pantanal plant 16

The soil on this part of Pantanal (between Corumbá and Miranda) is in many places fine sand – just like a desert or a beach. Just after a couple of hundred metres on the private road leading to Pousada Xaraés you’ll encounter the deep sand – only passable by large trucks and 4x4s. It was […]

Sphagneticola sp

Pantanal plant 05

Flikbrønsle (Bidens tripartita)

På veien hjem fra Jeløya ønsket jeg å sjekke litt langs Gjersjøen, og kom over disse på nedsiden av veien ned mot vannet. De sto i en liten gruppe og er eneste jeg har funnet i området. Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D3S Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/320 s

Strandstjerne (Aster tripolium)

Den salttolerante strandstjernen vokser helt nede mot sjøen der sjøsprøyt og springflo når, og her på Jeløya trives den mellom de store rullestenene. Aperture: ƒ/36 Camera: NIKON D3S Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s

Krattalant (Inula salicina)

Krattalant vokser i noen store og frodige bestander i Ekebergskråningen. Både med og uten blomster er dette en frodig og dekorativ plante som hagesentrene burde ta inn i sitt sortiment – i stedenfor de mange innvaderende staudene de mener kundene vil ha! Når det er sagt – igjen et merkelig og ubegripelig navn på en […]

Krattalant (Inula salicina)

Selv uten blomster synes jeg denne planten er dekorativ.

Landøyda (Senecio jacobaea)

Landøyda kommer i en variant uten randkrone (denne) og en med. Jeg synes denne ligner underarten jacobaea ssp dunensis, som er beskrevet i flere nordeuropeiske land, og som visuelt sett ligner veldig på denne. Men i Norge er dette enn så lenge en variant av jocobaea. Jeg fant kun denne ene planten på nordøstspissen av […]

Flekkgrisøre (Hypochoeris maculata)

Før blomstene åpner seg strutter de kraftige knoppene med løfte om en diger blomst. I år har det vært nok av regn og alle har vokst sitt potensial og blitt skikkelig høye. Uten regn vil de åpne blomstene duve i det minste luftdrag. Med bare litt ekstra vekt fra regn vil mange skjene mer og […]

Oksetunge (Anchusa officinalis)

Fargen på blomstene er for meg helt hypnotiserende! Den dype fargen har ulike rød og blå-sjatteringer fra knopp til avblomstring, samt lysvinkel. Jeg fant kun en frodig bestand ved fortet sør på Hovedøya.

Fagerknoppurt (Centaurea scabiosa)

I blomstringen kan egknoppurt og fagerknoppurten virke like ut fra blomsterstanden, men bladene er svært forkjellige. Det er kun fagerknoppurten som har flikete blader Med slike flikete blader er det enkelt å skille denne fra engknoppurten som ikke har flikete blader.

Fagerknoppurt (Centaurea scabiosa)

Fagerknoppurten vokser rikelig på Hovedøya, men det var nesten bare knopper å se når jeg gikk her. Den ligner veldig på den vanlige engknoppurten, men engknoppurten har ikke flikete blader. Fagrknoppurtens blomsterstand er også mer “rotete” og “duskete” enn engknoppurten.

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park plant 15

I spent very little time on the Cerrado or grassland sections of the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, but on my way back to the village of Florida I stopped a few times to shoot some of the more conspicuous plants.

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park plant 15

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park plant 13

I observed new (to me at least) and different species of plants wherever I looked, and even though I left the the plateau the very same trail walked up, I saw new and interesting plants all the time! With the enormous diversity of flora in this park, one would need years to see and photograph […]

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park plant 13

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park plant 12

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park plant 11

As I visited at the end of the dry season, the plateau was lush and green. Many of the plants species were in full bloom. Huanchaca Plateau is also called Caparu Meseta (Meseta de Caparú). Please help identify it – leave a comment. Altitude: 806 metres.

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park plant 11

Oritrophium sp

The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4608 metres.

Altiplano plant 31

Altiplano plant 30

Erigeron rosulatus

Baccharis acaulis

Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Here it’s popping out of a cushion of Sarcocornia pulvinata. Altitude: 3669 metres.

Baccharis acaulis

Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Here it’s grouwing out of a cushion of Sarcocornia pulvinata. Altitude: 3669 metres.

Baccharis tola

A few weeks earlier and I would have seen all this as flowers – a beautiful sight I imagine. This species seems abundant here, and is undoubtedly able to spread far and wide with the wind. The amount of seeds per plant is staggering, and sometimes so many are released that it looks like smoke […]