Melvin and I climbed to the summit of La Sorciere searching for ferns.
We were rewarded by finding for the first time Polytaenium dussianum and for the second time
Polystichopsis muscosa, both Caribbean endemics.
As a bonus, I noticed at home the tiny filmy fern, Didymoglossum hymenoides, growing on the rhizome of Polytaenium dussianum.
November 2010
A disastrous month with terrible flood damage island wide but worst in valleys and on steep slopes, caused by 22 inches (55cm) of rain in 24 hours (hurricane Tomas, 30th October).
Followed up by torrential rain on the 18th November.
The human and infrastructure toll is enormous. Most forest trails are closed and there are many landslides.
24 October 2010
Exciting find in an isolated coastal Atlantic ravine, Garcinia humilis
10 September 2010
Melvin recently came across a tree spinach on a farm and after a flurry of emails, Gary Brekon (via Frank Axelrod) identified it as the very nutritious Cnidoscolus aconitifolius ssp. aconitifolius cv Chayamansa. Amerindian name chaya
14 August 2010
Found the tiny filmy fern Trichomanes angustifrons on Piton Flore today.
6 August 2010
Have finally managed to find Pteris tripartita and Selaginella tenella
Also may be on the way to sorting out the confusing Hymenophyllum hirtellum/hirsutum situation.
16 May 2010
I have been told that we have two Halophila sea-grasses here, H. decipiens (indigenous) an H. stipulacea, a recent arrival and potentially invasive.
I collected H. stipulacea at Marigot today. It may well be found at most yacht centres. I found it in extremely shallow water and apparently H. decipens is found in deeper water, so hopefully there won't be competition.
5 May 2010
Recent find at Auberge Seraphine, a duckweed, probably Lemna aequinoctialis
22 March 2010.
Great book about plants of Antigua and Barbuda!
After an unusually intense, fiercely hot drought for several months, the wind switched Saturday night 20 March to the normal N. E trades and ushered in a moist showery airstream. Fires will be reduced, the rainforest will cheer up, bananas might recover and the reservoir might rise a bit. Great news.
10 March 2010
Only one species is unidentified at the moment.
It is a sedge I found recently growing on dumped soil in Cul de Sac swamp.
Any ideas please email Roger
Response below
The sedge is Cyperus difformis L., an Asian species that has been turning up all over the world during the last century, mainly in disturbed wetlands. I can’t find any record of it being collected in the Lesser Antilles, so Rogers specimen appears to be the first.
Mark
T. Strong, Ph.D.
Smithsonian Institution
Department of Botany
Many Thanks!
Roger
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