Croton sarcocarpus
Easily distinguished from croton socotranus by the large leaves Elevation: 393 meters. Endemic.
Archive for 'Euphorbiaceae'
Euphorbia spiralis
An individual with just a few fresh flowers to show for so far this season, but if you look carefully you might find another individual not far away abundant with flowers, or none at all. That is how unpredictable life is on Socotra. Endemic.
Morten Ross and Euphorbia spiralis
Here I’m photographing a beautiful specimen of Euphorbia spiralis on Socotra. Get a closer view of it here.
Euphorbia spiralis
At first glance this looks like a cactus, but it is in the spurge family. As the name implies there should be spiral growth, which this specieme does not have. This is a variation of the species, and I have yet to encounter one with the typical screw-like growth. Endemic.
Euphorbia hadramautica
Socotra has a large number of eye-catching species of plants, but there a so many inconspicuous and very small species too, like this one. You have to go down on your knees and slowly move around for the smallest ones. This one is particularly hard to notice when the foliage is withering as is the […]
Euphorbia hadramautica
Socotra has a large number of eye-catching species of plants, but there a so many inconspicuous and very small species too, like this one. You have to go down on your knees and slowly move around for the smallest ones. This one is particularly hard to notice when the foliage is withering as is the […]
Euphorbia schimperi
A common species in shrubland and seen in all stages of growth depending on the the location. Here it is blooming and is active, whilst in another location nearby you might encounter one that is dormant and waiting for the trigger to grow flowers. This is at 676 meter elevation.
Tragia balfourii
A species advertising a sinister side to it – stinging hairs, just like a stinging nettle. I did not have an encounter with its stings, as I did not brush against one, nor wore shorts, but I have no plan on feeling a sting. It is not known why it has evolved to such a […]
Euphorbia socotrana
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.
Euphorbia socotrana
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.
Euphorbia socotrana
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. I was definitely entering their very last moments before the season of rest, so this is perhaps more a developing fruit than that of a […]
Croton socotranus
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 […]
Euphorbia spiralis
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 […]
Euphorbia spiralis
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 […]
Eeuphorbia kischenensis
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 […]
Euphorbia arbuscula
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 […]
Euphorbia arbuscula
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 […]
Euphorbia schimperi
From afar these bushy plants look like a mess of sticks, but when in bloom a visit up close reveals beautiful inflorescences and naturally pollinating insects. Socotra has a huge number of endemic plants and many are so strange that you really feel you’re on a different planet. This species is not endemic, so it’s […]
Euphorbia schimperi
From afar these bushy plants look like a mess of sticks, but when in bloom a visit up close reveals beautiful inflorescences and naturally pollinating insects. Socotra has a huge number of endemic plants and many are so strange that you really feel you’re on a different planet. This species is not endemic, so it’s […]
Euphorbia schimperi
From afar these bushy plants look like a mess of sticks, but when in bloom a visit up close reveals beautiful inflorescences and naturally pollinating insects. Socotra has a huge number of endemic plants and many are so strange that you really feel you’re on a different planet. This species is not endemic, so it’s […]
Euphorbia arbuscula
A beautiful speciemen of euphorbia arbuscula overlooking the Detwah lagoon of the northwestern Socotra. 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 the end of the wet season, so I did not encounter any in bloom. Endemic.
Euphorbia schimperi UV
No surprising patterns or colors in UV.
Euphorbia schimperi
From afar these bushy plants look like a mess of sticks, but when in bloom a visit up close reveals beautiful inflorescences and naturally pollinating insects, here a fly of which the pattern on the wings might look like visiting ants! Socotra has a huge number of endemic plants and many are so strange that […]
Jatropha unicostata UV
Also this species is dark in UV with no pattern or markings that should suggest advertising to certain pollinating insects in UV.
Jatropha unicostata
A very common tree in lower levels of Socotra which in places make widespread forests. On my trip I found these trees in full bloom here along the Detwah lagoon, whilst on other sides of the island the trees were with yellow leaves like autumn, and yet other areas completely without leaves or flowers. The […]
Jatropha unicostata
A very common tree in lower levels of Socotra which in places make widespread forests. On my trip I found these trees in full bloom here along the Detwah lagoon, whilst on other sides of the island the trees were with yellow leaves like autumn, and yet other areas completely without leaves or flowers.
Jatropha unicostata
A very common tree in lower levels of Socotra which in places make widespread forests. On my trip I found these trees in full bloom here along the Detwah lagoon, whilst on other sides of the island the trees were with yellow leaves like autumn, and yet other areas completely without leaves or flowers. When […]
Sandbox tree (Hura crepitans)
The oxbow lake just a few meters from the building of Amazon Research and Conservation Center (ARCC) is an excellent way to get close to flowers and leaves on trees and vines that otherwise are out of reach – many meters up towards the canopy.
Sandbox tree (Hura crepitans)
The oxbow lake just a few meters from the buildings of the Amazon Research and Conservation Center (ARCC) is an excellent way to get close to flowers on trees and vines that otherwise are out of reach – many meters up towards the canopy. This is the male flower.
Dalechampia occidentalis
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!
Dalechampia occidentalis
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!
Dalechampia occidentalis
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.
Manihot sp
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 🙂
Manihot sp
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 🙂
Manihot sp
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 […]
Euphorbia thymifolia
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 […]
Euphorbia thymifolia
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 […]
Euphorbia hirta
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 […]
Euphorbia hirta
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 […]
Dalechampia scandens
The ones I found grew in the edges of the grasslands, where low and dense brush dominated.
Dalechampia scandens
The ones I found grew in the edges of the grasslands, where low and dense brush dominated.
Euphorbia sp
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.
Euphorbia sp
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.
Polynesian Beach-Spurge (Chamaesyce fosbergii)
This plant is endemic to French Polynesia and the Anaa atoll and it grows widespread. The population of bees is abundant and they are the main pollinator, but also various flies visit these flowers.