Magnoliopsida

Species: Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf. Date: 2006-12-17 Location: Along road no.4 after turn-of no.3, Gorongosa National Park Habitat: Wooded grassland on alluvial soil

Species: Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf. Date: 2006-12-17 Location: Along road no.4 after junction with no.3, Gorongosa National Park Habitat: Wooded grassland on alluvial soil

Species: Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf. Date: 2006-12-17 Location: Along road no.4 after junction with no.3, Gorongosa National Park Habitat: Wooded grassland on alluvial soil

in habitat on roadcut in volcanic rhyolite tuff at upper canyon rim. Original ID as a rayless P. gentry, later confirmed as P. batopilensis by AM Powell. This site on the old gravel switchback road has now been destroyed by a new paved highway to Batopilas that also greatly limits access to many former rich roadside collecting sites in the canyon.

Hybrid with E. nodulosa

wet, shaded crevice along edge of creek crossing exposed volcanic tuff bedrock. SYN: Mimulus cardinalis v. verbenaceus

scrub in moderate sloping cleft bottom draining steep narrow canyon cut in deeply eroded escarpment of volcanic tuff forming continental divide. Massive rock hodoos (the Monks) makes this area incredibly scenic in addition to richly diverse botanically.

sub-shrubby parasitic perennial on Prosopis glandulosa in calcareous soil and white limestone gravels in arroyo tributary of Fresnal Creek in remote Hells Half-acre region.

open pine understory on thin volcanic rhyolitic tuff soils

Slo.: crnikasta homulica

Slo.: pahljaastolistna plahtica, pahljaastolistni rosnik - Habitat: High mountain pasture, moderately inclined, slightly south west oriented, slope, calcareous ground, full sun, dry place, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 0-2 deg C, elevation 2.000 m (6.550 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: soil among stones and rocks. - Comment: There are many species of the genus Alchemillaand they are difficult to be determined. Frankly, this is possible with certainty only to specialists. See details in the comments to my pictures of Alchemilla glaucescens (here on Flicker). I've mostly based my determination on excellent picture and description in the Ref.:(1). I hope it is correct but I can't guarantee. - Most plants in the genus Alchemilla are, in spite of small, modestly colored and unremarkable flowers very beautiful particularly after light rain or in dense morning fog. Their hairy leaves abundantly collect small droplets of dew, giving them silvery appearance. The translation of Slovenian name 'rosnik' means 'dew-flower' and also German name 'Silbermantel', meaning 'Silver coat', points to their silvery costume jewelry. - Alchemilla flabelata is common in this region of Mangart's flats. Otherwise the plant grows scattered almost in the whole of South Alps. It can be found also on north side of the Alps (Ref.:(2)), but it is much rarer there. - Ref.: (1) T. Wraber, 2 x Sto alpskih rastlin na Slovenskem (2 x Hundred Alpine Plants of Slovenia), Preernova druba (2006) (in Slovene), p 87. (2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 502. (3) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovene), p 260.

Slo.: kor - Habitat: stony hills of Adriatic Sea shore, abandoned fields and Mediterranean makia edge, almost flat terrain, calcareous ground, full sun, average precipitations ~1.200 mm/year, average temperature 16 deg C, elevation 20 m (60 feet), Mediterranean phytogeographical region. - Substratum: red karst type soil. - Comment: Growing solitary. Generally this is a quite rare tree today, almost totally forgotten and being listed as an rare and endangered species in Switzerland, Austria and Britain. In Slovenia one can find it only here and there being almost rare too. In the sub- and Mediterranean region of Croatia it is more frequent. However, long time ago the situation was quite different. Sorbus domestica was a common tree species in woods as well in cultivation. It was known as useful species for its healthy fruits and wood for more than 2.000 years. In favorable conditions it grows quite large and it is a long-lived tree, with ages of up to 400 years. Its wood is beautiful. Among the European trees it belongs to those with the highest density of wood. However, its fruits picked straight off the tree are highly astringent and gritty, but when left to over-ripen it sweetness and aroma becomes something really special. The fruits have never been broadly industrially-commercially important and that is probably why they still keep their very unique and pleasant taste. The fruits can be either apple-shaped (S.d.fo. pomifera (Hayne) Rehder) or pear-shaped (S.d.fo. pyrifera (Hayne) Rehder). - 'var. pyrifera' should actually be 'fo. pyrifera', however 'fo.' is unfortunately not accepted by CalPhotos. - Ref.: (1) P.Schuett et all., Lexikon der Baum- und Straucharten, Nikol Verlag (1992), p 489.