Monday, November 11, 2013

Hankering for Humidity - Benefits of being in the Conservatory. Plant of the Day: Triangle Palm - "Dypsis decaryi"


Fall Flower Show
The beautiful sun is shining bright today.  This bodes well for having a nice day at the Conservatory.  More visitors seem to come when the air temperature is cold (right now, the outside air temp is 25 degF) and the sun is shining.  So I was pleased to see that there were a large number of folks walking through the conservatory.

Almost immediately, walking into the Palm Dome, I note that the humidity levels are high. I know that they strive to keep humidity levels up in the conservatory, but I’m wondering if I notice it more today because outdoor humidity has fallen.  The humidity levels in my house are also lower, so I might be more sensitive to feeling the higher humidity in the Conservatory.  Whichever it is, let me tell you that it feels great!  As a transplanted southerner, I definitely miss the higher humidity levels!

There’s much to see in the Conservatory.  The Fall Flower Show is still ongoing and looks really nice.  The gardeners have planted new mum and chrysanthemum plants.  These all have flower buds getting ready to burst open with beautiful colors.  The varieties of ornamental grasses planted around the Sunken Garden are really exquisite and they accent the flowering plants really well. 
Bromeliad
Bromeliad

The bromeliads are becoming one of the most interesting group of plants to examine in the Palm Dome.  I love this amazing specimen that captures water in its center.  It appears to grow flowers in this water-logged micro-environment.  If you know more about this plant, I'd love to hear from you!  I'm going to do more research on it as well.  I'll post more information when I find it.

In the North Garden, more plants have been pruned.  I discovered that the cotton plant, which I thought had been taken out of the North Garden completely, had merely been cut way back to where no one could see it.  It is now growing much taller and I hope to see a flower on it within a few months.  A previous blog of mine has a couple of pictures of the beautiful yellow flower that is produced on the cotton plant.

Dragon Tree
In addition to enjoying the plants that I see each volunteer session, I enjoy noticing and learning about new plants that I “discover” on my walks through the Conservatory.  In the Palm Dome, I found two different plants indigenous to Madagascar.  The first is the Madagascar Dragon Tree, Dracaena marginata.   This plant grows as a shrub or small tree to 20’ tall (like the one you see in the picture).  Although it is toxic to cats and dogs, it is popular as a houseplant or an ornamental.

The Plant of the Day is another interesting plant from Madagascar - the Triangle Palm, Dypsis decaryi.  This plant is an important keystone species in Madagascar, providing fruit sustenance for parrots, lemurs, and wild pigs.  The seeds and other parts of the plant are not considered eatable by humans.  There is an estimated 1,000 species of triangle palms left in the wild.  Because the habitat of this palm is being destroyed by grazing animals, humans and fire, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Triangle Plant as vulnerable.  It is also listed in Appendix II from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) indicating that any international trade of this palm will be regulated and monitored.

For more information (all websites accessed November 11, 2013):



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