OT bulb exploration and finding sundews instead
John Grimshaw (Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:18:35 PDT)

Justin's story about sundews in Texas reminds me of a day spent bulb-hunting
near Cape Town with Graham Duncan. We found a slope that had been burned the
previous season, covered in the usual charred proteas that make a terrible
mess of clothing, and thought that it looked suitable. There were plenty of
bulbs as expected, but also masses of Drosera capensis with elongated,
beautifully sticky leaves. Although well aware of the tuberous species in
southern Africa it was stil a very pleasant surprise to see it there. From
the British perspective one expects Drosera to be plants of damp places (as
most indeed are), and to be rather insignificant, so lush stands of a large
species on a dry hillside just 'doesn't seem quite right'!

John Grimshaw

Dr. John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 9NP

Tel. 01242 870567