A Neotropical Savanna

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Today I have moved my blog to its own domain, http://ntsavanna.com and have posted the first entry - on galls.

I have also launched a small website, called Learn Plants Now! devoted to learning about plants. It covers some of the strategies and tips I have developed over the time since I’ve been in Panama. The hope is that it may be of some use to those who are new to the field, as I still am.

Hope to see you there.

A couple of years ago I wrote about two Mimosa species that we have in the area. They are sensitive to the touch, and I was quite taken by them, at first. Now that we have a few good healthy stands here and there, and now that I’ve walked barefoot upon them, and now that the dogs carefully avoid them, I’m a little less enamored. Here’s a sample stand:

And here’s a representative thorn:

We now have plans to remove at least the stands near the house.

Nevertheless, I continue to marvel at how the leaves shrink upon touch. And now I’ve read a very interesting post at Niches explaining exactly how and why the leaves shrink. He has some nice pictures, too. Definitely worth reading if you’re at all curious about this famous sensitive plant.

It’s the time of year for the Miconia rubiginosa bloom - possibly my very favorite Miconia tree.

All of the Miconias in this area have small white flowers in what is called a panicle inflorescence, that is, more or less pyramid-shaped. The Miconia rubiginosa have small tufts like little cotton balls within the inflorescence.

Two other Miconias in the area bloom earlier in the year. Miconia impetiolaris has large shiny leaves and produces a bright red berry. Its inflorescence (left, below) looks like a robust cluster of bottle brushes. The third Miconia, which may be Miconia argentea, is a looser inflorescence than the other two (right, below).

I have a special fondness for M. rubiginosa, though. It’s pretty dominant in this area, and I see many stands of it on the road between Potrerillos and Dolega. Locally it’s known as canillo. It’s really difficult to get a shot that gives you a sense of trees everywhere blooming white. This will have to do for now: