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Photographed at Pauatahanui inlet on New Year's day 2012.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Color is Life: Pencil thin, delicate; green and brown scales conceal these snakes in the bushes along the banks of tidal rivers in brackish mangrove swamps.
TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae (Colubrids)
Genus/species: Ahaetulla fronticincta
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Pencil thin, delicate; green and brown scales. Bulbous wide-set raised eyes. Length to 60 cm (23.5 inches).
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Myanmar (formerly Burma) Mostly arboreal. They are abundant on bushes along the banks of tidal rivers in brackish mangrove swamps.
DIET IN THE WILD: Diurnal hunter of small fish: gobies, and rice fish. Prey immobilized with mild venom
from enlarged rear fangs. Visually-oriented hunter.
ACADEMY DIET: An arboreally-adapted species that consumes fishes is an oddity. In the Steinhart, feed on guppies and goldfish.
REPRODUCTION: Fertilization internal. Viviparous. Newborn snakes are a subtle shade of brown. Polymorphic: some adults turn green, brown, or more rarely two-toned.
The Steinhart Aquarium was the first to display this species. Academy field research on this little-known species continues. Steinhart’s vine shakes have bred and reproduced in captivity, a first for this species.
CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern (LC)
This snake is a mangrove specialist feeding only on fish. It can occur in somewhat degraded habitat, however as it requires a large enough area of mangrove habitat to support fish populations, it will not persist in sites where the mangrove zone is only a few trees thick.
Water Planet, Feeding Cluster
References
California Academy of Sciences Water is Life Exhibit
video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrTHRPo3UBW7XsA...
IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/192058/0
Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/1057253/details
flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608449603666/
Wordpress Shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-OM
3-1-13, 10-19-15
Consensus Bayesian phylogeny of the Daphnia pulex species complex based on the mitochondrial ND5 and COX1 genes.The alignment contains 95 sequences consisting of 762 nt of ND5 and 1386 nt of COX1 with 321 polymorphic positions of which 204 are phylogenetically informative. The tree is rooted through the midpoint. Posterior probabilities are indicated on the nodes of the tree and are not shown if less than 0.80. Taxon colors represent geographic locations as follows: black = North America, blue = east Asia, red = South America.
Agam, Amenagement de l'antichambre des appartements prives du Palais de L'Elysee pur le President Georges Pompidou (1972 - 1974)
Agam's Kinetic interior for the Elysee Palace was commissioned by President Georges Pompidou in 1971. A "pictorial space" on the scale of a room, exploiting walls, ceiling, floor and doors, the Salon follows the principles of artist's "polymorphic painting" in its use of coloured prism-shaped elements to produce abstract compositions that change with the point of view. Installed between 1972 and 1974 under the aegis of the Modbilier National (the state collection of furniture and tapestries), it was dismantled on Valery Giscard d'Esting's accession to the presidency and presented to the Centre Pompidou in 2000. Drawin on a very precise selection of colours and materials, the work offers the vision of a dynamic, geometric space, suggesting a permanent metamorphosis of the visual world.
Arescus species found inside rolled leaf shoots of Heliconia, Bombon, Napo, Ecuador, 1550-1600 meters altitude. The genus is exceptionally polymorphic so I presume these two belong to the same species.
Adult, foreground, immature, rear.
Photographed on the Kapiti Coast near Wellington.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Arescus species found inside rolled leaf shoots of Heliconia, El Chaco, Napo, Ecuador, 1650 meters altitude. The genus is exceptionally polymorphic.
Arescus species found inside rolled leaf shoots of Heliconia, Bombon, Napo, Ecuador, 1550-1600 meters altitude. The genus is exceptionally polymorphic so I presume these two belong to the same species.
Dat.: March 21. 2017
Lat.: 46.36016 Long.: 13.70263
Code: Bot_1040/2017_DSC00414
Habitat: recently clear cut light mixed wood, slightly inclined mountain slope, south aspect; colluvial, skeletal, calcareous ground with some rock boulders; dry, sunny, open place; elevation 600 m (1.970 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region.
Substratum: soil among stones and rocks.
Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soča and Trenta, right bank of river Soča, west of Trenta 2b cottage, East Julian Alps, Posočje, Slovenia EC.
Comment: Helleborus niger is another plant, which fuels my admiration year after year. Its large, up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white flowers (when young) with their unusual structure (large white 'petals' are actually sepals!) are very beautifully shaped. But they are not only white! Many other shades from yellow, greenish, vividly pink, wine-red, to purple can be found during their growth. The first flowers already appear in earl winter, sometimes even in late November, if the weather allows and bloom well in April, even in May on cool places with lot of snow during the winter. The plant is a floral element of south and east Alps It is widely exploited in horticulture. Helleborus niger is especially valued in Japan, where Helleborus societies are establish, which organize trips to European places where displays of wild growing plants can be admired.
In west Slovenian in Upper Soča river valley and elsewhere Helleborus niger is too common plant to be truly admired. In February and March there are zillions of plants flowering everywhere, in forests, on grassland and especially along wood edges. On many places they represent the most dominant flowering plant not only during late winter but also in early spring.
How many species genus Helleborus comprise is still an open question. The number varies from 5 to 20, depending on to whom you trust. Many of them are extremely polymorphic and any kind of intermediate forms can be found.
Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). However, protected are only underground parts and seeds (Oo category). Protected also in some other EU states.
Ref.:
(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 122.
(2) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 100.
(3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 276.
(4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007), p 127.
(5) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected Plants of Slovenia), Mladinska Kniga (2007) (in Slovenian), p 103.
The Polymorphic Plastic Parade (Tipi tour 09), www.plasticparade.org/ came to Austin. The members of the project had a discussion about the project at the MASS Gallery.
This was very interesting. It was a great idean and I enjoyed discovering how the idea came about and how they accomplished it.
Photographed at Washdyke Lagoon, Timaru, South Canterbury.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
Dat.: March 15. 2017
Lat.: 46.36126 Long.: 13.70106
Code: Bot_1038/2017_DSC00294
Habitat: border between pasture and mixed wood; slightly inclined mountain slope, southeast aspect; colluvial, skeletal, calcareous ground; dry place; elevation 630 m (2.070 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region.
Substratum: soil.
Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soča and Trenta, right bank of river Soča, north of Trenta 2b cottage, East Julian Alps, Posočje, Slovenia EC.
Comment: Helleborus niger is another plant, which fuels my admiration year after year. Its large, up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white flowers (when young) with their unusual structure (large white 'petals' are actually sepals!) are very beautifully shaped. But they are not only white! Many other shades from yellow, greenish, vividly pink, wine-red, to purple can be found during their growth. The first flowers already appear in earl winter, sometimes even in late November, if the weather allows and bloom well in April, even in May on cool places with lot of snow during the winter. The plant is a floral element of south and east Alps It is widely exploited in horticulture. Helleborus niger is especially valued in Japan, where Helleborus societies are establish, which organize trips to European places where displays of wild growing plants can be admired.
In west Slovenian in Upper Soča river valley and elsewhere Helleborus niger is too common plant to be truly admired. In February and March there are zillions of plants flowering everywhere, in forests, on grassland and especially along wood edges. On many places they represent the most dominant flowering plant not only during late winter but also in early spring.
How many species genus Helleborus comprise is still an open question. The number varies from 5 to 20, depending on to whom you trust. Many of them are extremely polymorphic and any kind of intermediate forms can be found.
Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). However, protected are only underground parts and seeds (Oo category). Protected also in some other EU states.
Ref.:
(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 122.
(2) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 100.
(3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 276.
(4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007), p 127.
(5) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected Plants of Slovenia), Mladinska Kniga (2007) (in Slovenian), p 103.
Drosera cistiflora is a widespread highly variable and polymorphic species of sundew from the western Cape region of South Africa. there is tremendous variation in flower size and color as well as stem and leaf morphology. For this region, there are current research efforts to identify and reclassify this 'species' into multiple classifications. The late afternoon light provided a spectacular setting for these images.
First daze - Thanks for following! ☢️ 💾 🍄 🐬 ❤️ #ozwyz #lgbt #mirror #glitched #contemporaryart #prismatic #hippie #transartist #transart #coolart #colorfulart #hotart #weird #polymorphic #hipsterart #photoshopartist #edit #abstractartwork #visuals #artoftheweek #ripple #spirit #artpiece #wild #graphics #cyberart #artwatchers #artwork instagr.am/p/CUEvFQGLEnN/
Es una especie muy polimorfa, que se extiende desde el Himalaya hasta Japón, Assam, centro norte de China, Himalaya occidental y oriental, Japón, Corea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya. los ejemplares representados aquí fueron recolectados en Yunna en 1998 por Allen Coombes como Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). En iturraran se encuentran en la zona 3.
t is a highly polymorphic species, ranging from the Himalayas to Japan, Assam, North-Central China, Western and Eastern Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalayas. the specimens represented here were collected in Yunna in 1998 by Allen Coombes as Quercus pentacycla (CMBS 516). In iturraran they are in area 3.
Morphologically highly polymorphic species from Puebla and Oaxaca states in Mexico, where it is found wild at
elevations from 4500 to 7500 feet.
It found traditional use in the making of Agave wine (pulque) and the spirit Bacanora in Mexico.
The size of the whole plant, the characteristic number of leaves as well as shape and spininess all vary a lot. Forms like this, with large numbers of nearly orbicular leaves are popular in cultivation. Some young plants sucker freely but they stop doing so as they mature. They can take ten years to flower, and then the whole rosette dies.
Native here in Michigan, I first learned about these in the 5th grade in elementary school. They grow in ditches and wet areas in the early Spring and brighten many back roads. This was the first time I used my camera [2005]. I still have the same one but have learned how to take better pix. I love the cheery flower and thought I'd still share it with you! Have a sunny day!!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_palustris
"Caltha palustris commonly known as Kingcup or Marsh Marigold (also known as Calthus palustris syn. Trollius paluster Krause) belongs to the Ranunculaceae (buttercup family). It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe including Iceland and Arctic Russia, temperate and Arctic Asia, and North America). It grows in wet, boggy places, such as marshes, fens, ditches and wet woods. It becomes most luxuriant in partial shade, but is rare on peat. In the UK, it is probably one of the most ancient British native plants, surviving the glaciations and flourishing after the last retreat of the ice, in a landscape inundated with glacial meltwaters.
The plant is a herbaceous perennial growing to 80 cm tall. The leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, 3-20 cm across, with a bluntly serrated margin and a thick, waxy texture. Stems are hollow. The flowers are yellow, 2-5 cm diameter, with 4-9 (mostly 5) petaloid sepals and many yellow stamens; they are borne in early spring to late summer. The flowers are visited by a great variety of insects for pollen and for the nectar secreted from small depressions, one on each side of each carpel. Carpels form into green sac-like follicles to 1cm long, each opening to release several seeds. It flowers early April and May and is very valuable to insects at this time as they provide nectar and pollen to them.
Caltha palustris is a highly polymorphic species, showing continuous and independent variation in many features. Forms in the UK may be divided into two subspecies: Caltha palustris subsp. palustris, and Caltha palustris subsp. minor.
It is sometimes considered a weed in clayey garden soils, where every piece of its root will survive and spread. In warm free-draining soils, it simply dies away......."
Dat.: March 21. 2017
Lat.: 46.35736 Long.: 13.70168
Code: Bot_1040/2017_DSC00436
Habitat: Mixed riparian forest, next to river; flat terrain, alluvial, sandy, calcareous ground; in shade, humid air and ground place; elevation 535 m (1.750 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region.
Substratum: soil.
Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soča and Trenta, right bank of river Soča, next to the river, near the bridge to Matevž farm house, Trenta 1, East Julian Alps, Posočje, Slovenia EC.
Comment: Helleborus niger is another plant, which fuels my admiration year after year. Its large, up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white flowers (when young) with their unusual structure (large white 'petals' are actually sepals!) are very beautifully shaped. But they are not only white! Many other shades from yellow, greenish, vividly pink, wine-red, to purple can be found during their growth. The first flowers already appear in earl winter, sometimes even in late November, if the weather allows and bloom well in April, even in May on cool places with lot of snow during the winter. The plant is a floral element of south and east Alps It is widely exploited in horticulture. Helleborus niger is especially valued in Japan, where Helleborus societies are establish, which organize trips to European places where displays of wild growing plants can be admired.
In west Slovenian in Upper Soča river valley and elsewhere Helleborus niger is too common plant to be truly admired. In February and March there are zillions of plants flowering everywhere, in forests, on grassland and especially along wood edges. On many places they represent the most dominant flowering plant not only during late winter but also in early spring.
How many species genus Helleborus comprise is still an open question. The number varies from 5 to 20, depending on to whom you trust. Many of them are extremely polymorphic and any kind of intermediate forms can be found.
Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). However, protected are only underground parts and seeds (Oo category). Protected also in some other EU states.
Ref.:
(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 122.
(2) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 100.
(3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 276.
(4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007), p 127.
(5) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected Plants of Slovenia), Mladinska Kniga (2007) (in Slovenian), p 103.
Fig 1. DNA amplification pattern obtained with random primer OPF18. a) Bulk segregant analysis: the polymorphic fragment of 2600 bp is indicated by an arrow. M = marker, SP = sterile parentIR32364TGMS, FP = fertile parent IR68, FB = fertile bulk, SB = sterile bulk. b) Amplification pattern of 10 homozygous sterile and 8 homozygous fertile individuals along with the parents IR32364TGMS and IR68. The RAPD fragment OPF18-2600 cosegregates with the TGMS trait.
books.google.com.ph/books/irri?id=331tQMnExkEC&pg=PA6...
Part of the image collection of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
This work by Ian Poblete is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Army ants, in the family Formicidae, are speciose and abundant in the tropical forest. There are around 150 species, all of which are characterized by large colonies, almost exclusive carnivory, and polymorphic workers, such as the soldier pictured above.
This specimen was collected as it entered its colony's subterranean bivouc, which is a cluster of ants clinging together. The ants typically pour out of the bivouac at dawn, and form a large raiding colony. They fan out at a distance of up to 50m from the bivouac, and then proceed to advance in a fan-shaped raiding front. Any animals (arthropods mostly) encountered are quickly subdued and brought back to the nest cache.
Tetsuo Kogowa anarchy.translocal.jp/radio/micro/howtotx.html (foreground) and Sonodrome www.sonodrome.co.uk/shop.html
The Polymorphic Plastic Parade (Tipi tour 09), www.plasticparade.org/ came to Austin. The members of the project had a discussion about the project at the MASS Gallery.
This was very interesting. It was a great idean and I enjoyed discovering how the idea came about and how they accomplished it.
Horse Meadow Campground, Tulare County. Polymorphic population, this year there was a higher frequency of the yellow form.
Dat.: March 23. 2017
Lat.: 46.37218 Long.: 13.74138
Code: Bot_1041/2017_DSC00445
Picture file names: Helleborus-niger_raw_90. rumeni
Habitat: dirt road side, partly grassy place; alluvial, calcareous ground; shallow soil layer; open, sunny, dry place; elevation 605 m (1.980 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region.
Substratum: soil.
Place: Lower Trenta valley, Trenta village; near Plajer touristic farm house, East Julian Alps, Posočje, Slovenia EC.
Comment: Helleborus niger is another plant, which fuels my admiration year after year. Its large, up to 10 cm in diameter, snow-white flowers (when young) with their unusual structure (large white 'petals' are actually sepals!) are very beautifully shaped. But they are not only white! Many other shades from yellow, greenish, vividly pink, wine-red, to purple can be found during their growth. The first flowers already appear in earl winter, sometimes even in late November, if the weather allows and bloom well in April, even in May on cool places with lot of snow during the winter. The plant is a floral element of south and east Alps It is widely exploited in horticulture. Helleborus niger is especially valued in Japan, where Helleborus societies are establish, which organize trips to European places where displays of wild growing plants can be admired.
In west Slovenian in Upper Soča river valley and elsewhere Helleborus niger is too common plant to be truly admired. In February and March there are zillions of plants flowering everywhere, in forests, on grassland and especially along wood edges. On many places they represent the most dominant flowering plant not only during late winter but also in early spring.
How many species genus Helleborus comprise is still an open question. The number varies from 5 to 20, depending on to whom you trust. Many of them are extremely polymorphic and any kind of intermediate forms can be found.
Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoživečih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, št. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004). However, protected are only underground parts and seeds (Oo category). Protected also in some other EU states.
Ref.:
(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 122.
(2) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 100.
(3) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 276.
(4) A. Martinči et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnična Založba Slovenije (2007), p 127.
(5) P. Skoberne, Zavarovane rastline Slovenije (Protected Plants of Slovenia), Mladinska Kniga (2007) (in Slovenian), p 103.
Morphologically highly polymorphic species from Puebla and Oaxaca states in Mexico, where it is found wild at elevations from 4500 to 7500 feet.
It was used to make Agave wine (pulque) and the spirit Bacanora.
The size of the whole plant, the characteristic number of leaves as well as shape and spininess all vary a lot. Forms like this, with large numbers of nearly orbicular leaves are popular in cultivation. Some young plants sucker freely but they stop doing so as they mature. They can take ten years to flower, and then the whole rosette dies.
Illustrations on the morphological properties of the structure, created from the paper model (scale 1:50)
Design + construction: Werner Maritsas
Client: Onassis Cultural Center
learn pore here: wernermaritsas.wordpress.com/
An interesting bunch of variable oystercatcher showing three colour phases. The left and right birds are the black phase which gave the species is scientific name of unicolor; the centre bird (foreground) is largely pied but with some mottled patterns and the bird at rear is fully pied. I spent a lot of time studying the rear bird because it looked so much like a South Island Pied Oystercatcher but concluded, finally but not with total conviction, that it is a pied variable not a SIPO.
Photographed at Pauatahanui inlet on New Year's day 2012.
A species of wader in the Haematopodidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. Blacker birds are more common in the south. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and red beaks. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. During breeding, the pair will defend their territory, sometimes aggressively. Once mated pairs rarely divorce. After breeding they may be seen within flocks, or on the edges of flocks, of black and white South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) which also have vivid orange beaks. After breeding they may even form small flocks of their own. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the SIPO - SIPO are around 550 grams. Occasionally totally black but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused with SIPO. The variable species has less definition between the black and the white area, as well as a mottled band on the leading edges of the underwing. Variables also have a smaller white rump patch which is only a band across the base of the tail rather than a wide wedge shape reaching up to the middle of the back as in the SIPO. When mottled they are sometimes called 'smudgies'. They feed on molluscs, crabs and marine worms. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms. They can open a shellfish by either hammering a hole in it or getting the bill between the two shells (of a bivalve) and twisting them apart. They breed in North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and Chatham Islands. They do not breed inland or beside rivers although the SIPO does. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed. When in flight they make a high pitched 'kleep kleep' sound. They usually lay 2-3 eggs but they can lay up to 5. The eggs are typically stone coloured with small brown patches all over. Eggs hatch in 25-32 days. Chicks are well camouflaged by their colour and can fly in about 6 weeks. The bird lives up to about 27 years.
A tiny (2mm) M. fieldi worker found foraging on the trunk of a Eucalyptus accedens tree. Monomorium are a diverse group, both in size and habit, ranging from very small generalist scavengers to large, polymorphic seed harvesters. M. fieldi is widely distributed around Australia and is probably one of the most common species found in and around Perth.