"Orpheus flower" "Resurrection Plant" "Haberlea rhodopensis" BFG FB P1120531
Haberlea is a monotypic genus[3] of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The only member of this genus, Haberlea rhodopensis, is endemic to parts of Bulgaria and a small part of northern Greece, especially in the Rhodope Mountains.[4] Common names include Orpheus flower and resurrection plant because of the remarkable ability of Haberlea to survive very long periods of desiccation.[5]
The species is a stemless, evergreen perennial found in north-facing rocky habitats. Basal rosettes of dark green leaves bear trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of white, violet or purple in spring and summer.
Despite the zygomorphic nectar-producing flowers (which are considered an ancestral character) and the overall trend in Gesneriaceae, resurrection plant is only rarely pollinated by bees and does not have specific pollinators. Rather its evolution has switched in the direction of providing pollen as a reward and generalisation of pollinating insects - a trend that is observed in the other European member (Ramonda) of the more tropically and subtropically spread family Gesneriaceae. Active pollinators of Haberlea are found to be syrphids (hoverflies) and Lasioglossum morio (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) which are characterised by low preferential behaviour regarding the plants that they visit for food.[6]
Haberlea rhodopensis (pale lilac flowers) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7][8]
Monday 8th May
"Day spent in some of the valleys and foothills of Mt. Falakro south and SW of Volakas, especially Petroussa and Pyrgi"
Third day of holiday. Woke after a good meal last night at 6.10am with no trips to loo in night! A first for ages & just before 6.20am alarm! A clear cold morning - First down to see the 4 or 5 moths in Martin's trap, nothing very exciting. Ilyia , Martin & self chatted over coffee from vac after we found the mugs. Good breakfast - eggie bread/toast, bacon & a HB egg. Bread, jam, cherry juice & more coffee. All ready before 9am leaving in rain & cloud, prepared for a wet day. Drove over mountains south to Petroussa & an open air theatre set in a river gorge. Spectacular setting but showers & clouds made first few hours uncertain. Nightingales singing, Tony clambered up a rock race to snap a Southern Comma! Later into a Chequered Blue . Up and down steps to bottom of gorge several times. Weather gradually got better & by lunch time c 1pm it got warmer. WE had called at Aldi on way and I enjoyed my apple turnover & pain au raisin.. No euros with me so I owe Martin for mine. Also some apple juice & treat, sticks of nougat & peanut brittle. Some nice butterflies & scenery. Later c 4pm we went up the mountain to Pirgy, where the same stream had been dammed . Beautiful flowers Ramonda and White Helleborines .
Back at hotel in Volakas c 7pm , after stopping for an ice cream on the way back. After a good shower and tidy up down to drinks with Richard, Ilyia & Tony's wife & Jon etc for a Fix beer outside with the hotel dog. Then supper , a huge wodge of lasagna & salad with red wine in litre jugs & so to bed.
"Orpheus flower" "Resurrection Plant" "Haberlea rhodopensis" BFG FB P1120531
Haberlea is a monotypic genus[3] of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The only member of this genus, Haberlea rhodopensis, is endemic to parts of Bulgaria and a small part of northern Greece, especially in the Rhodope Mountains.[4] Common names include Orpheus flower and resurrection plant because of the remarkable ability of Haberlea to survive very long periods of desiccation.[5]
The species is a stemless, evergreen perennial found in north-facing rocky habitats. Basal rosettes of dark green leaves bear trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of white, violet or purple in spring and summer.
Despite the zygomorphic nectar-producing flowers (which are considered an ancestral character) and the overall trend in Gesneriaceae, resurrection plant is only rarely pollinated by bees and does not have specific pollinators. Rather its evolution has switched in the direction of providing pollen as a reward and generalisation of pollinating insects - a trend that is observed in the other European member (Ramonda) of the more tropically and subtropically spread family Gesneriaceae. Active pollinators of Haberlea are found to be syrphids (hoverflies) and Lasioglossum morio (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) which are characterised by low preferential behaviour regarding the plants that they visit for food.[6]
Haberlea rhodopensis (pale lilac flowers) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7][8]
Monday 8th May
"Day spent in some of the valleys and foothills of Mt. Falakro south and SW of Volakas, especially Petroussa and Pyrgi"
Third day of holiday. Woke after a good meal last night at 6.10am with no trips to loo in night! A first for ages & just before 6.20am alarm! A clear cold morning - First down to see the 4 or 5 moths in Martin's trap, nothing very exciting. Ilyia , Martin & self chatted over coffee from vac after we found the mugs. Good breakfast - eggie bread/toast, bacon & a HB egg. Bread, jam, cherry juice & more coffee. All ready before 9am leaving in rain & cloud, prepared for a wet day. Drove over mountains south to Petroussa & an open air theatre set in a river gorge. Spectacular setting but showers & clouds made first few hours uncertain. Nightingales singing, Tony clambered up a rock race to snap a Southern Comma! Later into a Chequered Blue . Up and down steps to bottom of gorge several times. Weather gradually got better & by lunch time c 1pm it got warmer. WE had called at Aldi on way and I enjoyed my apple turnover & pain au raisin.. No euros with me so I owe Martin for mine. Also some apple juice & treat, sticks of nougat & peanut brittle. Some nice butterflies & scenery. Later c 4pm we went up the mountain to Pirgy, where the same stream had been dammed . Beautiful flowers Ramonda and White Helleborines .
Back at hotel in Volakas c 7pm , after stopping for an ice cream on the way back. After a good shower and tidy up down to drinks with Richard, Ilyia & Tony's wife & Jon etc for a Fix beer outside with the hotel dog. Then supper , a huge wodge of lasagna & salad with red wine in litre jugs & so to bed.