Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais State, SE Brazil - Part 1

[Paulo Minatel]

Hello all,

Between last May 15th and 20th I was traveling to Serra do Cipó, one of the richest places in CP species in Brazil and only ~100 km distant from Minas Gerais capital, Belo Horizonte.

It was a scientific trip, so I traveled together with other botanists (most of them, specialists in Eriocaulaceae, other group very common in this region).

We leave São Paulo early in day 15, our objective was to arrive at the Serra do Cipó before sun shine, objective soon frustrated by the fact that the car didn’t run more than 80 km/h… fortunately, we solved the problem arriving at the Serra and our return didn’t lasted the same 12 and a half hour expended to go…

Another problem I had was that I was informed about the trip only 2 days before, so I didn’t had time to get my camera, that was in my home at São Carlos. Fortunately (or not), I borrow a not too good camera from a friend… fortunately all the other had camera – I borrowed all of them… :-)

In the first two days we explored some areas I visited in the other time I went to the Serra, in November of 2007 and, in the third, we explored an almost unexplored region, a great sandy valley of difficult access except with a 4X4 or walking.

As there are lots of pics, I decided to divide them into, at least, two parts.

Well, let´s go to the pics!

Near the base of the Serra rests the Morro da Pedreira. This mount is a very interesting formation, with many caves formed by the action of the water. It’s also a place where people practices climbing.

Pic with the “bad” camera:

The vegetation still very exuberant, even now, at the beginning of the dry season:

A small Vellozia sp.

Lavoisiera sp. (Melastomataceae)

The first site we explored was nothing less than the place where the wonderful Drosera sp. “Shibata” was discovered. This species grow in sandy soils very poor in organic material, between sparse grasses, but especially in disturbed places (like “earth” roads), where the grasses are sparser. The soil is visibly dry, except, perhaps, in the summer.

Nevertheless, they didn’t occur in places with seasonal springs, such as other species (D. tomentosa, for example).

[Paulo Minatel]

In this site they occur simpatricaly with Drosera montana from which it can be distinguished by the hairiness of the abaxial side of the leaf and of the adaxial side of the petiole, leaf shape, spatulate to oblanceolate, with the apex almost truncate and with some tentacles similar to those of D. tentaculata, but not so big (in D. montana, the leaf is spatulate more linear and the apex is obtuse), different coloration between petiole (green) and blade (vinaceous), while D. montana have a uniform coloration. Add to that, there are the reproductive characteristics, but it was not flower time (that is in the mid to end of the dry season) – see my other travel here: http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24267.

More pics of D. sp. “Shibata”:

[Paulo Minatel]

In another distant site, I find again that great group that was blooming last November No flower this time, but the plants was visible bigger and health:

November 2007

May 2008

Some of them were forming a long stem, with many dead leaves:

By far:

[Paulo Minatel]

Following the way, we found some springs and, growing in the wet soil, other species:

Drosera tomentosa var. glabrata

And Utricularia amethystina, in it’s most common form, with big and lilac flowers:

Growing on the great Vellozias, many flowered Sophronitis brevipedunculata:

[Paulo Minatel]

And, between the “campos rupestres” there was growing:

Drosera tomentosa var. glabrata

Drosera sp. “Shibata”

And a small population of Drosera chrysolepis

On e of them was with imature fruits:

[Paulo Minatel]

Returning to the car I found, growing near anoter way, Utricularia laciniata:

Together with U. amethystina

With double corola:

And some Paepalanthus bromelioides.

[Paulo Minatel]

We went out from this place and went to the Juquinha’s statue, a very famous place at Serra do Cipó (no pictures, sorry).

This region have many “campo rupestre” sites, from wich arises many springs.

Not far from there I found a boggy region, with dark soil, very rich in organic material. Unfortunately I was alone and without a decent camera ... so this are the only “good” photos I have:

The region:

Growing there, lots of Drosera camporupestris

And D. tentaculata and D. tomentosa var. glabrata, but I don’t have photos...

[Paulo Minatel]

But, in another next place, growing in the springs at the base of a “campo rupestre”, I found many Drosera hirtella var. hirtella with flower stalks:

Drosera tomentosa var. glabrata (Left) and D. hirtella (Right)

D. tomentosa var. glabrata

And an enormous Drosera chrysolepis, growing between the tall grasses:

And this is the end of Part 1.

Part 2 soon.

Enjoy,

[Iggy]

Fantastic trip!!!

I like Sophronitis brevipedunculata !!! It's soo beautiful.

Also all the Drosera and Utrics are superb.

Maybe it was not your favorit camera , the pics are more than good enough.

Thanks for sharing them!! I'm ready for part 2.

Iggy

[Stefan P]

Beautiful, simply spiffing and it's not that often I say that! Great Stuff

[kisscool_38]

Always a pleasure to see your pics Paulo

I love that red Orchid

[Martin Hingst]

Great, Paulo

I agree to what was said about the Sophronitis brevipedunculata. What a fantastic plant inhabit and flower!

And Utricularia amethystina, in it’s most common form, with big and lilac flowers

I wish it was the most common form here in our collections as well. Maybe soon - seeds have made it here already ;-)

Thanks for your pictures and

regards

Martin

[Daniel O.]

Hi Paulo,

thanks for this report and the nice pictures from your fieldtrip, nice landscape.

For sure you have had a few very interesting days.

The Drosera sp. "Shibata" colony is really looking fantastic , but the other Drosera of course are also very nice.

U. amethystina and Utricularia laciniata are very beautiful too, also the Sophronitis brevipedunculata.

Martin, I´m growing a few Sophronitis and Sophronitis brevipedunculata is already available in Germany.

But i think that most of them are similar, in my eyes they are some of the most beautiful orchids.

Best regards,

Dani

Edited July 2, 2008 by Daniel O.

[Khelljuhg]

Fantastic!

[Paulo Minatel]

Thanks everybody for the nice comments.

I hope I'll be able to post part 2 in the next days.

Regards,

Paulo