Mystery Magnolia - Page 5/9
Occasionally we see small trees that have pushed their branches above the thicket, and these umbrella-like canopies are laden with winged seed pods that are brilliant wine-red. Contrasted with the glossy dark green foliage they make a dazzling show in the morning light. We recognize these trees as Wimmeria concolor and note the approximate location in our journal.
"We had no idea that this outstanding ornamental is found this far north, and this information alone would have made the expedition worthwhile."
All
are about ready to give up, when suddenly the road surface changes from powdery
dry dust to bouncy pebbles. Abruptly we begin our climb and there is a dramatic
change in vegetation. The trees are taller and there are spaces between them.
Mighty stone formations rise into view. Someone notes a Quercus polymorpha,
the handsome and tenacious oak which has blue green foliage and grows from
Guatemala to Texas. It is well past noon, we have traveled approximately 11
miles beyond the river and have reached 1,400 feet altitude. At long last,
the air is fresher and cooler, and there are views into distant canyons and
mountains. On the high ridges above, growing from within crevices in the stone,
there are hundreds of palms (Brahea edulis) piercing the skyline.
We stop briefly to examine the glossy, dark green leaves of an orchid tree (Bauhinia sp.). Legumes are one of Lalo's major interests and this small tree is of special concern because he thinks that it could be a new species. He took a herbarium pressing of the leaves, but, at last report, this plant is still unnamed. At this location we see Clethra pringlei, a small evergreen tree that in mid-summer flowers spectacular racemes of white, urn-shaped flowers with fragrance reminiscent of cinnamon and honey followed by deep pink fruit that slowly turns brown with maturity. The tree is familiar because we have seen it at Rancho del Cielo Biosphere Reserve. We had no idea that this outstanding ornamental is found this far north, and this information alone would have made the expedition worthwhile.
|
|
