L.A. County Arboretum & Botanic Garden Plant Info: April 2016

Friday, April 29, 2016

Links for Watersaving Lecture

Drought believed to be hastening tree deaths in Los Angeles
Bewaterwise.com
Rebates
SoCal Water$mart – Residential Rebates – Rotating Sprinkler Nozzles
qualifying_list_nozzles_20160307.xls
Drippers, Emitters & MicroSprays
State of California ET Station Data
CIMIS
Smart Water Saving Controlers that Use ET
Rain Bird ESP8LXME - 8-Station Modular Irrigation Controller
ETC-LX - ET Manager Cartridge for ESP-LX Series Controllers
Amazon.com : Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller, 8 Zone 2nd Generation : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Amazon.com : Orbit 57946 B-hyve Indoor/Outdoor 6 Station WiFi Sprinkler System Controller : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Growing Under Lights With Hydroponics (Vegetables)
Products Archive - Veggie Fresh LED
PSKW - Philips Horticulture
Amazon.com : TaoTronics Led Grow light Bulb, Miracle Grow Plant Light for Hydropoics Greenhouse Organic ( E27 12w 3 Bands) : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Fasciation is a type of deformity that occurs in plants fairly frequently. It is usually not fatal to the plant (in the short run) and can sometimes make it appear more interesting and unusual. Their are several causes of fasciation in plants. It can occur spontaneously as a mutation of the genetic material in the plant's growing tip (the apical meristem), it can occur as the result of the mutating effect of chemicals, or it can occur as the result of bacteria that inhabit the soil and infect the plant with a small piece of genetic material that produces large amounts of a hormone like compound that causes that plant to become fasciated. Fasciated cactus and succulents (called 'cristate' or 'monstrose' ) can be sought after as highly desirable by collectors. Here at the Arboretum you can see fasciated plants occurring regularly. This might be because our soils could be infested with the bacteria that causes fasciation.

Fasciation on a 'Tower of Jewels' (Echium wildpretii)

Close up of fasciated (crested) Euphorbia characias wulfenii

Fasciated (crested) Euphorbia characias wulfenii

Aloe speciosa with crested flower spikes.

Close up of Aloe speciosa with crested flower spikes.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Native Orchids?

Q. This plant is growing on the slopes near where my daughter lives in Palos Verdes. She thinks it may Be a wild orchid. Thanks Laura

Mystery plant.

A. After doing a search of native orchids here on Calfora.org, I found a pretty good match for this photo. It's a Epipactis gigantea, commonly known as a stream orchid or giant hellaborine. Here's its range (from Calflora.org) so you see that it can be found where daughter lives in Palos Verdes: