Catalogue de Plantes

This is the first post in Plantaland not exclusively related to CPs. I'll talk about music. However, this is not particularly convential music. I wanted to write about Catalogue de Plantes, by Bob Verschueren. The music of this absolutely great disk is completely "played" with plants as instruments. Each track has the name of a plant, both the common name and the latin one, and the sounds of the track are produced by the corresponding plant. The work is described by himself as:

Exploration de toutes les sonorités qu'il es possible d'obtenir à partir d'une plante.

We can also read in his website that his technique consists of a series of "microscopic" sound recordings next to the object that allows the artist to take out unexpected sounds while manipulating various vegetables.

As one listens the disk, I'd say that the main feelings are inspiration and confusion, which follow one another along with the different sonorities. I definitely recommend it, I'm sure you won't be indifferent to it.  I'd listen to it at least once with headphones, since there are some very well done stereo effects.

Yes, and now it's the time to see what happens when plants listen to music played with plants. I'll try and tell you, just wait for news.

Pinguicula longifolia & vulgaris in Ordesa

I spent some days in the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. We climbed Mt. Perdido and did some trekking around. Once more, I saw some CPs (seems that I'll see CPs in every summer holiday). There were massive colonies of Pinguicula longifolia and I saw some small groups of P. vulgaris.

I found colonies of P. longifolia in the three valleys I visited: Bujaruelo, Añisclo Canyon and Ordesa. I'd say that some colonies could have hundreds of specimens. In some places plants had very long leaves, reaching more than 20cm. Plants were mostly found in vertical stone walls, with no specific orientations. I did not see P. longifolia plants avobe 1700m approx.

On the other hand, P. vulgaris were found in much higher places, ca. 2300m, near the Goriz refuge. There were small clumps of plants in west-facing grassy slopes.

I'd like to thank J.S.F, M.P.O. and P.C.C for their patience and understanding while taking this pics. CPs are not exactly one of their main interests, and it might not be easy to go hiking with someone shouting "Hey! take a pic of this one!"... "Stop the car! I found one in that rock!"... "Wait! there is a huge one there!"...

Enjoy the pics!

P. longifolia in Añisclo Canyon

P. longifolia, detail of flower, in Añisclo Canyon

P. longifolia, detail of flower, in Añisclo Canyon

P. longifolia in Añisclo Canyon

P. longifolia long leaves detail in Añisclo Canyon

P. longifolia growing directly from bare rock in  Añisclo Canyon

P. longifolia with shorter leaves in Ordesa valley

P. vulgaris near Goriz refuge

P. vulgaris flower detail near Goriz refuge. There were no fresh flowers.

Kew Gardens (London)

I spent some days with my girlfriend in London, including a visit to the Kew Gardens which I really recommend. I did not know if there where CPs in them, until I discovered a little room in the Princess of Wales Conservatory where they are all grown. There are also some Nephentes in the Temperate and the Waterlily House.

There are many Sarracenia and Drosera species and a few Nephentes, Dionaea and Utricularia. I could also see some healthy specimens of Roridula gorgonias and Drosophyllum lusitanicum.  There is a small Cephalotus follicularis in a corner and some Heliamphora nutans, with some clumps of large specimens.

Enjoy the pics!

Nepenthes ampullaria red pitcher, in the Waterlily House

Tuberous Drosera sp.

Roridula gorgonias with flowers

More Roridula gorgonias with flowers

Macro of leaf from R. gorgonias, showing hairs and glands

Leaf tips of R. gorgonias, showing hairs and glands

A big clump of S. purpurea

 
Drosophyllum lusitanicum (yes, exactly the one I did not find in my trip in Spring '08)

Closed flowers of D. lusitanicum

Macro shoot of D. lusitanicum leaf, a bit blurred

Nice clump of H. nutans

More H. nutans

Macro shots

It has been a long time since my last post. After hundreds of inquiries about the future of Plantaland I've decided to write a new post. This time, I'll share with you some macro shots I got with the invaluable collaboration and expertise of V.M.D. Not close enough? Click on the pics to see a larger image! Enjoy!

Drosera filiformis

Drosera filiformis developing leaf

Drosera scorpioides

Byblis liniflora leaf

Dionaea muscipula malformed trap with prey

Byblis liniflora flower bud