Rubiaceae | Morten Ross

Archive for 'Rubiaceae'

Galium rebae

Galium rebae is found in Sikkim’s temperate to subalpine biomes. Elevation: 3125 meters. Native range is Central and East Himalaya to South Central China.

Galium rebae

Galium rebae is found in Sikkim’s temperate to subalpine biomes. Elevation: 3636 meters. Native range is Central and East Himalaya to South Central China.

Galium rebae

Galium rebae is found in Sikkim’s temperate to subalpine biomes. Elevation: 3636 meters. Native range is Central and East Himalaya to South Central China.

Sikkim plant (Mussaenda)

Mussaenda is found in Sikkims subtropical biome to 1700 meterselevation. Elevation: 920 meters.

Most of the Dirichletia obovatas I encountered were past their flowering, but this one had a few sweet scented tubes remaining. I can only imagine their scent filling the air at the height of flowering. Endemic. Elevation: 490 meters.

Oldenlandia balfourii

A beautiful specimen of Oldenlandia balfourii, at its full potential. Usually the species is gobbled up by the goats, but at the time I visited there was still plenty of grasses to eat. Only when they have exhausted the stock of grasses will they find their next favourite species on their list. Adding to this, […]

Oldenlandia balfourii

This specimen of Oldenlandia balfourii is growing alongside the fern Adiantum balfourii, and appears vital and at its full potential. Unfortunately it bears the scars of the ever present goats, but as there is still plenty of grasses it has not been completely decimated. Endemic. Elevation: 422 meters

Dirichletia obovata

Oldenlandia pulvinata

A common species seen from sea-level to 700-800 meters elevation. During this visit I found them in bloom in all the locations I encountered them. They are found with flowers in white, blue or a mix of the two, as this one. Elevation: 349 meters. Endemic.

Dirichletia obovata

At this stage the inflorescences look like hortensia, but in fact the flowers are long gone and fallen to the ground. The flowers, or corollas, are purple, bluish to pink and incredibly sweet scented tubes growing out of what is seen here. Endemic. Elevation: 362 meters.

Oldenlandia pulvinata

In places I found large numbers of these lovely cushion-forming plants in bloom. Some with white flowers, others blue, and some in between like this one. Endemic. Elevation: 135 meters.

Oldenlandia balfourii

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.

Oldenlandia balfourii UV

The yellow center of the flower is dark in UV, and the white petals are also quite dark. In UV this small flower appears prominent against the greyness of the background seen here. Endemic.

Oldenlandia balfourii

This plant has such tiny flowers so they are very easy to miss! On the field below the weather station of Skand I found many of them growing under trees. Endemic.

Dirichletia obovata

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.

Dirichletia virgata

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.

Dirichletia virgata

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! Endemic.

Kohautia socotrana

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 […]

Kohautia socotrana

This flower 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 flowers are easily […]

Oldenlandia pulvinata UV

Bright in visible but quite dark in UV. Endemic.

Oldenlandia pulvinata

I found very few still with flowers, but when in prime flowering season these mats will be all-white with flowers. Endemic.

Oldenlandia pulvinata

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.

Palicourea rigida

The protected areas of Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is a treasure trove of plant species! Like so many plant species here, this bark is also soft. Native range is tropical South America.

Palicourea rigida

The protected areas of Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is a treasure trove of plant species! The number of plant species is enormous, and I am really saddened by the fact that perhaps 90% of the cerrado has been destroyed. Native range is tropical South America.

Palicourea sp

This is a plant I found alongside one of the trails in the forested areas around SouthWild Pantanal. Please help me Identify it – leave a comment.

Palicourea sp

This is a plant I found alongside one of the trails in the forested areas around SouthWild Pantanal. Please help me Identify it – leave a comment.

Sphinctanthus microphyllus

Not far from the buildings of SouthWild Pantanal I found this species in large numbers, but only this one with a fresh and vibrant flower. The others were past their prime and fading. The petals are very thick and leathery. They all were small bushes reaching to my knee, but seemed to have been pruned […]

Sphinctanthus microphyllus

Not far from the buildings of SouthWild Pantanal I found this species in large numbers, but only this one with a fresh and vibrant flower. Native range is Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.

Myrmaure (Galium palustre) UV

Disse knøttsmå (2-3 mm store) blomstene er hvite i lyset vi mennesker ser reflektert, mens i UV er de intenst blålige, mens knoppene er svakt blålige når de nærmer seg blomstring.

Galium humile

This is the second species of galium I encountered on the plateau of Itatiaia National Park. Altitude: 2460 metres. Native range is southeastern South America.

Galium humile

This is the second species of galium I encountered on the plateau of Itatiaia National Park and it was also in fruit, opposed to the other species. Altitude: 2460 metres. Native range is southeastern South America.

Galium humile

This is the second species of galium I encountered on the plateau of Itatiaia National Park, and is densely haired compared to the other species. Altitude: 2460 metres. Native range is southeastern South America.

Itatiaia plant 11 (Galium)

Altitude: 2460 metres. Please help me identify it – leave a comment.

Largeflower Mexican clover (Richardia grandiflora)

Native range is Brazil, Bolivia to Argentina.

Largeflower Mexican clover (Richardia grandiflora)

This species can create large and widespread mats which when in bloom is a wonderful sight! Native range is Brazil, Bolivia to Argentina.

Staelia sp

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 […]

Staelia sp

Gulmaure (Galium verum)

I år har det regnet mer en nok, og med det blir det nok av vann til at selv engene med skrint jorsmonn blir saftige og vitale som her på Hovedøya. På denne engen er det gulmauren som dominerer. Her skimtes blodstorkenebb, ryllik, rødknapp og rødkløver, men det er gulmaurens gulfarge som dominerer. Naturlig utbredelse […]

Palicourea coriacea

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). Altitude: 806 metres. Native range is Bolivia and Brazil.

Palicourea coriacea

Palicourea sp

As I got close to the Huanchaca Plateau I noticed many new types of plants compared to further down the slopes of the plateau, and it seemed to increase as I closed in on the plateau itself. Please help me identify it – leave a comment. Altitude: 822 metres.

Palicourea sp

Klengemaure (Galium aparine)

Som maurer flest er klengemaurens blomster veldig små og under 2 cm store. I motsetning til stormauren er blomsterstanden her liten og produserer sparsomt med blomster. Oftest er kun en blomst åpen samtidig.

Klengemaure (Galium aparine)

Før blomstring er klengemauren gjennkjennelig på de lange, smale og piggete bladene med spiss i enden.

Klengemaure (Galium aparine)

Det vokser klengemaure i rikelig monn i villnisset på tomten til nummer 2 nedover mot sjøen, samt ellers spredt der det er solrikt og fuktig nedover mot stranden. Lett å skjenne igjen i forhold til de mange andre maurene, både på at den ofte vokser oppover gjerder og andre vekster, men mest av alt at […]

Myrmaure (Galium palustre)

Myrmaurens blomster ser ut som om de er laget av små halvgjennomsikte krysaller, eller kanskje melisdråper. Utrolige kunstverk som vi alle går glipp av fordi blomstene er så utrolig små – de største er bare 3 millimeter store!

Nertera granadensis

Common and easy to find when bearing fruits. Altitude 3450 metres. Native range is very wide.

Sipanea sp

Found alongside the trail to Roraima. Help me identify it, leave a comment!

Hvitmaure (Galium boreale)

Noen få ganger visner hvitmauren gjennom røde høstfarger som her.

Myrmaure (Galium palustre)

Først med ganske så kraftig forstørrelse kan man tydelig se de nedoverbøyde piggene på blader og stilk.

Myrmaure (Galium palustre)

Her modnes de knøttsmå og hårløse bærene. Først blir de litt rødlige deretter svarte når de er modne. Disse vokser på nordsiden av tomta, ned mot sjøen.

Sumpmaure (Galium uliginosum)

Sumpmauren er ru å ta på. Både blader og stengel har pigger. De er innovervendte (mot stengelen) på de smale bladene og nedovervendte på stengelen – begge deler synes godt på bildet.

Sumpmaure (Galium uliginosum)

I de rike engene rundt Bjørnsrud, like ved Delingsdalen og den digre maurtuen, vokser blant annet denne sumpmauren. De hvite maurene er ikke lette å bestemme, og man skulle tro at fordi denne ikke vokser i sump, har nedovervendte pigger på blader og stengel burde dette være klengemaure, men så enkelt er det ikke.

Hvitmaure (Galium boreale)

Denne vokser i engen rundt Bjørnsrud, like ved Delingsdalen og den digre maurtuen.

Hvitmaure (Galium boreale)

Hvitmauren skilles best fra de andre maurene på at bladene har 3 tydelige nerver og stengelen er rød i leddene.

Gulmaure (Galium verum)

Vokser overalt der det er solrike og litt skrinne plasser – fra veikant til hage. Enkelte plasser kan det vokse i store grupper, som i den skrinne sørhellingen til nummer 2. De står da så tett at det på avstand ser ut som gult skum mellom gress og andre vekster. Hver blomst er knøttliten, men […]

Palicourea rigida

A common shrub on the savanna. I saw several on the way to Roraima tepui, and on the way to Angel falls, where this photo was taken. This is the only portion of the boat journey to Angel falls where we had to leave the canoes behind, as the long section of rapids in the […]

Angel Falls flower 002 (Retiniphyllum)

These flowers grow on a tree on the the last remaning soil before two rivers meet – the Kerep river (fed from Angel Falls) and Chrurun river (a tributary of the Carrao River). Please help me identify it – leave a comment!

Notopleura crassa

One of many species of shrub on Roraima. Native range is the Guyana Shield.

Palicourea concinna

Native range is the Guyana Shield.

Notopleura crassa

Native range is the Guyana Shield.

Palicourea concinna

I only found a handful of this small shrub in bloom. I assume it’s endemic. The leaves remind me of the European Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). Native range is the Guyana Shield.

Palicourea phaneroloma

It’s a small bush that produces these incredibly colored fruits that grows alongside the path to Roraima. Native range is the Guyana Shield.

Hexasepalum apiculatum

Native range is Mexico to tropical South America.

Declieuxia fruticosa

Native range is Cuba, Mexico to South America.

Indian Mulberry (Morinda citrifolia)

When this fruit is ripe it turns white and smelly – some therefore call it cheese fruit! It’s rich in carbohydrates and fiber. Both ants and humans alike find it edible. Juice is also made from it.

Myrmaure (Galium palustre)

På avstand ser man et skum av hvite blomster mellom engvekstene. Først veldig tett på ser man at det er utallige små blomster på tynne og langstrakte stengler. Drar man fingrene oppover stengelen kjenner man at den er ru – hakene peker nedover og er veldig små og tettsittende. Vokser på skrinne plasser som her […]