Socotran Desert Rose (Adenium obesum ssp. socotranum)
The unmistakable fruit of the Socotran desert rose. I encountered plenty of fruits during this visit to Socotra, but only 2-3 with open follicles and dispersing the seeds.
Tag Archives: Firhmin
Socotran Desert Rose (Adenium obesum ssp. socotranum)
This species is as iconic and well known as the dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), and every visitor would want a photo of one in bloom, like this one. It is found in enormous numbers, and is far from being threatened. Like so many other species on Socotra you might find individuals with no flowers […]
Boswellia ameero
This individual is vibrant and lush, a clear sign of recent rains. To those unfamiliar with boswellias it might appear as being pruned, as there are no thin branches from new growth. In temperate zones it is common to prune deciduous trees in parks and gardens (for instance Tilia cordata/europaea), resulting in thick and short […]
Boswellia ameero
Socotra holds at least 8 endemic species of Boswellia, which is a spectacular feat! They are incredible survivalists and most of them cling to bare rock as this one is, halfway into a shallow cave. The foliage is lush and is a clear sign of recent rains. Yet it is perhaps their flowers that are […]
Euphorbia kischenensis
Endemic.
Spade Flower (Pigea enneasperma)
I encountered this species in bloom in a few places in Firhmin Forest. It is a very variable species, and is found with spatulate (spoon-shaped) leaves, like this one nearby. This individual is growing in the leaf-litter of a dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari). This is a species with a very wide distribbution. Elevation: 703 […]
Firhmin forest, Socotra
With more than 30 000 dragon blood trees, Firhmin forest is the largest and densest group of dragon blood trees on Socotra. There is an estimated total of around 80 000 dragon blood trees on Socotra, which might seem a lot, but the regeneration has been non-existent for a very long time. Firhmin forest is […]
Firhmin Forest, Socotra
With more than 30 000 dragon blood trees, Firhmin forest is the largest and densest group of dragon blood trees on Socotra. There is an estimated total of around 80 000 dragon blood trees on Socotra, which might seem a lot, but the regeneration has been non-existent for a very long time. Firhmin forest is […]
Morten Ross and Firhmin Forest, Socotra
Here I’m photographing Acridocarpus socotranus, one of many endemic species of plants in the middle of the otherworldly Firhmin Forest. Find more about the status of the dragon blood tree here. Find more information about conservation efforts and studies.
Acridocarpus socotranus
This is the tallest specimen I’ve encountered on Socotra so far, and it appears very old, with considerable parts dead from past droughts. It has both flowers and seeds. The seeds are winged, like those of maple trees. This species is easily recognized when in fruit or bloom, by the racemes of yellow flowers and […]
Morten Ross and Firhmin Forest, Socotra
The Firhmin Forest is the largest collection of dragon blood tress in all of Socotra, with an estimated 32 000 trees. To walk in this forest was incredible and to look out at the forest from this vantage point was like standing in a different time and place, as these trees do not look like […]
Kalanchoe farinacea
This individual has an amazing view over Firhmin Forest. Being near the Haghier mountains the sky is overcast, but in a few days the sun will win over the clouds and this location will be baked in sunlight and heat until next winter. Between now and then only sporadic night fog will provide moisture to […]
Euryops arabicus
Euryops arabicus is a common species from around 600 meters elevation to the peaks of Haghier mountains. You will likely see it first as you ascend from the coast towards Dixam, where they grow in high numbers alongside the road. This is shot in the Firhmin Forest, where they are also commonly seen.
Ficus vasta
Very few plant species on Socotra grow such large leaves as the ficus vasta. Fully grown it is also one of the largest of the trees on Socotra. In the dry season this is a tree without leaves, as it is deciduous. For the time being this one has sufficient moisture from the vertical cliffs […]
Buxus hildebrandtii
An evergreen species common in Firhmin Forest, where it’s found as a shrub to trees 3 meters tall or more.
Ficus vasta
This looks innocent, but is the beginning of a slow and certain death of this dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari). It started with a seed left here in a bird’s dropping. The seed germinated, and slowly started it’s sinister journey to dominate this unsuspecting tree until it is dead. I don’t know how many years […]
Trichodesma laxiflorum
Endemic.
Spade Flower (Pigea enneasperma)
This is a very variable species, to the extent that this one is possibly a subspecies due to its spatulate (spoon-shaped) leaves, opposed to the linear leaves that is the norm for this species. This specimen was found not far from this one, and it has linear leaves. This individual is growing in the shadow […]
Kalanchoe farinacea
Kalanchoe farinacea is in places very common in Firhmin Forest, and at this time they are all in bloom. In a small area I counted more than 20 specimens of this species. They thrive on limestone rock, which is the foundation of Firhmin Forest. Endemic.
Greyleaf Heliotrope (Euploca ovalifolia)
My first and only encounter of this species on Socotra, and to my surprise not browsed by goats. This is likely because there is still enough grasses after the winter rains, and this species is only eaten when there is no preferred plants to find. Found in most of Africa, Oman, to Pakistan, India, Myanmar […]
Firhmin Forest, Socotra
The iconic dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), found only on the island of Socotra. Here they grow in the tens of thousands (Firhmin forest is estimated to hold more than thirty thousand trees) and make the only forest of dragon blood trees on Socotra and in the world. They can live for 700 years or […]
Firhmin Forest, Socotra
The dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) is undoubtedly the most famous of all plant species on Socotra, and you will know immediately this is a unique tree found only on this very special island. The plant is used as a logo and symbol of anything Socotri, and travel companies, foreign and Socotri, will have this […]
Corchorus erodioides
In Firhmin Forest I found this species in high numbers in some places. It is found throughout Socotra, but rarely in the granite Haghier mountains. Elevation: 783 meters.
Corchorus erodioides
Seen commonly throughout the Firhmin Forest where this one was captured. Endemic.
Corchorus erodioides
In Firhmin Forest I found this species in high numbers in some places. It is found throughout Socotra, but rarely in the granite Haghier mountains. Elevation: 783 meters. Endemic.
Euryops arabicus
A common species from around 600 meters elevation and to the peaks of Haghier mountains. You will likely see it first as you ascend from the coast towards Dixam, where they grow in high numbers alongside the road. This is shot in the Firhmin Forest, where they are also commonly seen. You can see the […]
Kalanchoe farinacea
Kalanchoe farinacea is in places very common here in the Firhmin Forest, and at this time they are all in bloom. In a small area I counted more than 20 specimens of this species. Here you can see some of the environment it is growing in – on limestone and with Dragon blood trees (Dracaena […]
Kalanchoe farinacea
Kalanchoe farinacea is in places very common here in the Firhmin Forest, and at this time they are all in bloom. In a small area I counted more than 20 specimens of this species. They thrive on limestone rock, which is the foundation of Firhmin Forest. Endemic.
Heliotropium nigricans
I was here in 2015 and then I struggled hard to find a single plant with a flower! That is how heavily browsed these plants were then. This time the winter rains were good and to this day provided excellent growth for the favourite fodder of the hundreds of thousands of goats on Socotra – […]
Launaea crepoides
Found in the upper parts of Firhmin forest. Elevation: 668 meters. Endemic.
Launaea crepoides
Found in the upper parts of Firhmin forest. Elevation: 668 meters. Endemic.
Dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari)
A forest of dragon blood trees can only be found on Socotra, as this species exists nowhere else! Firhmin Forest is a spectacular sight and the dragon blood tree is just one of so many species that exist only on this island. Although Firhmin appears like a healthy forest, you quickly notice there is no […]
Firhmin Forest, Socotra
A forest of dragon blood trees (Dracaena cinnabari) can only be found on Socotra, as this species exists nowhere else! Although Firhmin appears like a healthy forest, you quickly notice there is no regeneration. Under each of these trees there should be a number of seedlings from many species of plants growing in the shade […]