Fernando Rivadavia Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 (edited) Hello all, This is old news for some, but it's probably about time I post some pics... A few years ago at the Serra da Araponga (E Minas Gerais state, SE Brazil) I'd found U.longifolia growing in boggy soil among tall grasses with extra long leaves a little over a meter in length. Peter Taylor states in his Utric monograph that U.longifolia has inflorescences up to 100cm and leaves up to 115cm. Both these records were broken last year... In July 2005, I spent 2 weeks at the CP-rich Chapada Diamantina Highlands in the state of Bahia, NE Brazil, together with a few CP friends. A well-known species from this area is U.longifolia, but all the ones I'd seen previously at the Chapada Diamantina were relatively small. Near the town of Catolés, at the base of the Pico do Barbado (highest mountain in those highlands, just over 2000m altitude), we found U.longifolia growing among tall grasses in very boggy soil (Hmmm... this habitat seems to favor "XL" U.longifolia). We immediately realized these were large specimens and soon we were competing to see who could find the longest leaves & inflorescences. 100cm... 110cm... 115cm... records were quickly beaten in succession. The final record was ***145cm*** in length -- for a leaf AND also for a flower scape! There were over 50 flowers on some scapes, and they were still growing! Here's a pic of happy me holding up some of the longer leaves & scapes: And here are 2 pics of another population growing in Sphagnum by a river close to the nearby town of Ibicoara (with my friend Vitor Miranda taking pics): Best Wishes, Fernando Rivadavia Edited November 28, 2009 by Fernando Rivadavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanW Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Nice pics. Why is the water red/brown? Is it peaty or does it contain iron salts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khelljuhg Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andreas Eils Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Hi Fernando, Peter Taylor states in his Utric monograph that U.longifolia has inflorescences up to 100m and leaves up to 115cm. Both these records were broken last year... Well, typing errors sometimes are quite amusing. Especially if one tries to imagine that pictorially. The final record was ***145cm*** in length -- for a leaf AND a flower scape! There were over 50 flowers on some scapes, and they were still growing!Here's a pic o happy me holding up some of the longer leaves & scapes: I think my pig whistles :!: :!: :!: (German for BLOW ME DOWN!!!) Quite extraordinary and I already have been happy that my plant was growing leaves up to 60cm in length in my lowland terra! But I´m still waiting for a flower stalk! I hope a cooler and drier winter "rest" encourages flowering. Thanks for that incredible photo! Best regards, Andreas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando Rivadavia Posted November 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Hi guys, Andreas: Length corrected to CENTIMETERS! ;) Jan: Locals often say it's iron in the water, but that's a "rural" legend as far as I'm aware. The coca-cola coloring is supposedly always due to organic acids. The water of sandstone highlands in general here in Brazil (and especially at the Chapada Diamantina) have this dark coloring. Best Wishes, Fernando Rivadavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radmegan Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 Amazing!! Nice red river bed too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando Rivadavia Posted November 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 That's not a red river bed. That's white sand!! The color is in the water. Cool, huh? :):) See ya, Fernando Rivadavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radmegan Posted November 8, 2006 Report Share Posted November 8, 2006 That's not a red river bed. That's white sand!! The color is in the water. Cool, huh? :):)See ya, Fernando Rivadavia VERY cool. White sand and tea-colored water. Perfect conditions! No wonder its MASSIVE! Thanks for sharing Fernando!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted November 9, 2006 Report Share Posted November 9, 2006 Humic acid? Super specimens of Utrics ....... I wish I could get a flowing river in me greenhouse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilex Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 I always thought it was because of tanins in the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando Rivadavia Posted November 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 I think they're both right. As far as I know it's tannic acid. Take Care, Fernando Rivadavia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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