Category Archives: Dilleniaceae
The Sandpaper Tree – Curatella americana L.
Back when I was trying to identify a plant with sandpapery leaves, I kept finding references to a tree in the same family, but the particular plant I wanted to identify was a woody vine, a liana. It turned out … Continue reading
Weevils identified
The weevils that swarmed on the sandpaper plant when it was in bloom have been identified. I received this email from Dr. Henry Stockwell, who kindly performed the identification during his recent stay at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The … Continue reading
Sandpaper Plant Summary – Bees and Weevils
Weevils remain. 
Even as the sepal cups close, the stamens and pistils are still easily visible to the small weevil and, if they are depositing eggs, that can still be done at the last minute. … If indeed the weevils are laying eggs in order for their young to eat the seeds after they develop, then it’s surely no coincidence that the weevils “let” the bees have first dibs at the pollen.
Darwin’s Day
In celebration of the 200th birthdays of both Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, the sandpaper plant burst forth in bloom again today, this time attracting a new beetle. The image is not as well focused as I would like, but … Continue reading
