Category Archives: Botany
Guavas
This is the story of two plants that belong to the guava genus. The guava is a tropical fruit native to Latin America. [Illustration from wikimedia commons]. As far as I can tell, the two plants belong to the same … Continue reading
Regenerating a Tropical Forest
For some days now I’ve been scratching my head over the identification of some shrubs that are most likely in the guava genus, Psidium, of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Until that post is ready, I thought you might be interested … Continue reading
Miconia rubiginosa in bloom
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 … Continue reading
When a Plant Recognizes Sister Sue
If the ordinary-looking beach plant, the sea rocket, notices unrelated plants on the beach nearby, it will sprout aggressive nutrient-grabbing roots. But if it detects a sibling nearby, it restrains itself. The research is described in the Science Section of … Continue reading
