Rubus spectabilis 鮭莓、美洲大樹莓、美莓

Common name: Salmonberry
Scientific name: Rubus spectabilis 鮭莓、美洲大樹莓、美莓
Genus: Genus: Rubus 懸鉤子屬
Family: Rosaceae 薔薇科, rose family

Origin: Neophyte (established after 1500 AD). It is a native of western North America. It was introduced in Britain in 1827 and was known from the wild by at least 1874. 

Note: This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive non-native species. Although not banned from sale, it is an offence to plant or cause these to grow in the wild in NORTHERN IRELAND and the REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. Gardeners possessing them should undertake measures to control them.

Date: 24th March

[223] Deciduous, vigorous, suckering shrub. Flowers are usually solitary on lateral branches.

[225] Can reach up to 1-4m tall.

[209] Spines on stem.

[209cropped] Weak spines (straight prickles) occurring lower down the stem.

[204] Buds.

[204cropped] Leaves developing.

[203]

[216cropped] Flowering bud (left) and leaves developing.

[221cropped] Bases of leaves showing the stipules.

[202] 7-22cm long green trifoliate (ternate), toothed leaf. Leaflets are rhomboid. Terminal leaflet is larger than the two side leaflets.

[218] Underside of the leaves.

[218cropped] Hairs on the petiole as well as the mid-veins of the underside of the leaflets.

[208cropped] Flower bud.

[201cropped] Underside of the flower showing the 5 sepals.

[230cropped] Side view of a flower showing the sepals and petals.

[230cropped2] Enlarged photo showing the hairy sepals.

[211cropped1] Flower 2-3cm in diameter, with 5 pinkish-purple petals.

[211cropped2] Numerous (75-100) stamens, but pistils are still covered by the stamens for this flower.

[228cropped1] Lateral stage of a flower, both stamens and pistils could be clearly seen.

[228cropped2] Numerous stamens and pistils could be seen. Pistils with carpels above the petals could be seen above.

Daphne laureola 月桂瑞香、大戟月桂、桂葉芫花、洋瑞香

Common name: Spurge-laurel
Scientific name: Daphne laureola 月桂瑞香、大戟月桂、桂葉芫花、洋瑞香
Genus: Daphne 瑞香屬
Family: Thymelaeaceae 瑞香科, Mezereum family

Origin: native

Note: Toxic if eaten, skin irritant. Toxic to pets

Date: 24th March

[275] A small, glabrous evergreen shrub, found in woodland.

[281] Another plant with branch.

[278cropped] Stem showing the alternate leaves and flower stalks arising from leaf axil.

[276] Leaves dark, glossy green.

[279] Underside of the leaf.

[265]

[272cropped] Inflorescence of 5-10 flowers in axillary groups.

[263cropped] 4 sepals, fused sepal bases from a tubular hypanthium 花托筒, petals absent.

[268cropped] The above flower is likely a freshly opened one.

[262cropped]  There are totally 8 stamens, arranged in 2 whorls inserting onto the upper half of the hypanthium. 1 pistil but it is deep inside and could not be seen above.

[266cropped] 4 stamens above and the other 4 below, in 2 whorls.

[271cropped] It could be clearly seen that the 4 sepal lobes are unequal.

[271cropped2] 2 whorls of stamens. Yellow pollens could be seen above.

[265cropped] This is a special flower with 8sepals and more than 8 stamens.

Taxus baccata 歐洲紅豆杉

Common name: Yew
Scientific name: Taxus baccata 歐洲紅豆杉
Genus: Taxus 紅豆杉屬
Family: Taxaceae 紅豆杉科, yew family
Class: Pinopsida 松柏網
Divison: Pinophyta 松柏門

Origin: native

Date: 16th March

The following photos are male plants:

[0064] An evergreen tree or shrub, can reach up to 25m. Dioecious. Bark reddish brown and scaly.

[0061cropped] Twigs green. Midrib prominent on both surfaces of the leaves.

[0057cropped] Leaves pale green below.

[0055] Very young male strobili. 

[0060] mature male strobili.

[0052]

[0059]

The following photos show different stage of the male strobili:

[0056cropped]

[0054cropped]

[0052cropped2]

[0052cropped1] Look carefully powder-like pollens could be seen above.

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The following photos are female plants:

[0081]

[0078] Different stages of female strobili

[0073]

[0068]

[0078cropped] Different stages of developing female strobili.

[0073cropped]

[0068cropped] Open female strobilus.

[0076cropped] Female strobilus with pollination drops at its tip, ready to receive pollens.

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The following buds are found on another individual. These buds are longer than that of the female strobili posted above. No ideas to what are these. Maybe are (1) vegetative buds for lateral branch; (2) a longer form of female strobilus; (3) galls......

[0086]

[0086cropped]

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The following galls were found along with the female strobili on the female plant. They are buds (either vegetative or reproductive buds infested by bud mite. One of the example of bud mite is cecidophyopsis psilaspis 香榧癭蟎)

[0071]

[0074]

[0071cropped]

[0074cropped]

Anthus pratensis 草地鷚

Common name: Meadow Pipit
Scientific name: Anthus pratensis 草地鷚
Genus: Anthus 鷚屬*
Family: Motacillidae 鶺鴒科, the pipits 鷚 and wagtails 鶺鴒* family
Order: Passeriformes 雀形目

Remarks: * '鷚' is pronounced as '謀' in Cantonese. 鶺鴒 is pronounced as '炙(zik3) 令(ling4)' in Cantonese.

Status: Locally common resident; migrant; winter visitor

Date: 12th June

[20251] Slimmer bill (vs  slightly stronger bill in tree pipit, Anthus trivialis 林鷚)

[20256]

[20260]

[20263]

[20265]

[20267]

[20270] Breast buff white, streaked black; long, thick black streaks on flank. (vs sparse thin black streaks on flank in tree pipit, Anthus trivialis 林鷚)

[20259] Singing: 'sip sip' sound (vs 'teeess' or 'speeze' or 'spiz' in tree pipit, Anthus trivialis 林鷚)