February23_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - Plants such as this are sometimes used as border markers or fences at the property line. The leaves of this plant have sharp spikes like a serrated knife - it is Hechtia Ghiesbreghtii ("glomerata" Bromeliad). Hechtia Ghiesbreghtii is a species of the genus Hechtia. This species is endemic to Mexico.

As with most members of the subfamily Pitcairnioideae they too are heavily armed with marginal spines and require great care when handling. Hechtias are terrestrial and grow on desert hillsides and rocky slopes alongside cactus and are truly xerophytic, with standing long periods of drought and extreme variations in temperature. The flowers of this genus are mainly insignificant and nearly always white in color. Hence they are usually grown for their glossy foliage rather than their flowers.

Herbs or rarely shrubs, epiphytic, lithophytic, or terrestrial . Leaves spirally arranged , usually rosulate, sessile, simple , veins parallel, base dilated , sheathing , margin often spinose serrate or sometimes entire. Inflorescence terminal or lateral , scapose or sessile, a panicle, raceme , spike, or head , sometimes reduced to solitary, pseudolateral flowers; bracts usually brightly colored and conspicuous . Flowers bisexual or sometimes functionally unisexual , 3-merous. Sepals and petals each 3, distinct , free or basally connate ; petals often brightly colored, basal margin with a pair of scalelike appendages . Stamens 6, in 2 whorls of 3; filaments free, connate, or collectively or individually adnate to petals; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Gynoecium of 3 carpels united to form a compound , 3-loculed, superior or very often partly or wholly inferior ovary ; ovules few to usually Â± numerous in each locule; placentation axile . Style terminal and often 3-parted; stigmas papillose . Fruit a berry or less often a septicidal capsule, or seldom compound and fleshy . Seeds usually winged or plumose ; endosperm mealy ; embryo small to fairly large.

Plants 0.7--2.8 m in flower. Leaves pungent ; blade 21--98 ´ 2--6 cm. Inflorescences 2--3-pinnately compound , scaly ; proximal primary bracts often inconspicuous, shorter than lateral branches; lateral branches laxly or densely flowered, appearing capitate or cylindric , 0.5--40 cm. Staminate flowers sessile, scaly; floral bracts 2.5--3.5(--5.5) mm, exceeded by sepals; sepals ovate , 2.5--4 mm; petals 3.5--4.5 mm. Pistillate flowers sessile, scaly; floral bracts 3.5--4.5(--6) mm, exceeded by sepals; sepals ovate, 3--4 mm; petals ovate, 4.5--5 mm; ovary almost wholly superior. Capsules 6--8.5 mm, scaly, glabrescent with age.

Photos - Frames left and right: Signed rocks along the Irrigation Canal: This is a signature in stone, part of a century old repair on this community resource that has been conducted by local villagers who are responsible for repairing an maintaining the canal. Each Villager that owns land here in one the 3 villages (San Sebastian, San Agustin or Vista Hermosa) must donate a portion of time on restoration and maintenance (or donate money to the village fund for this project). Sometimes when major upgrades are made to the canal, the villagers responsible make their mark as to be remembered by future generations. These two renovations are marked 1883, probably when the major portion of cement lining was installed into the canal base.

Center frame: This is one of the small stone/cement bridges that direct monsoon rain water across the canal during rainy season. Without chutes such as this, the canal would be damaged.

Photos - L-R - I found a rock beside the canal and couldn't resist a photo.

Looking south from the canal pathway at El Rio Valley and the dwarf oak trees and small scrub that partially covers the hillside.

A portion of the irrigation canal that is cut into solid rock and lined with cement. In sections like this the path is covered with cement and cobblestones to prevent erosion.

Click here for more photos of the Canal at Vista Hermosa, Etla District in Oaxaca Mexico for this day.