I know that many of you will be interested in this ...
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/gardening...-iw-43966.aspx

Mike

--

....................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight.

....................................

On Apr 20, 3:23*pm, "'Mike'" wrote:
I know that many of you will be interested in this ...http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/gardening...-to-kew-on-iw-...

Mike

--

...................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight..

...................................

They might well be mike, but many will only see your post when I
reply, as you are in the killfile of nearly every regular poster on
this group!

On Apr 20, 3:23*pm, "'Mike'" wrote:
I know that many of you will be interested in this ...http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/gardening...-to-kew-on-iw-...

Mike

--

...................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight..

...................................

See what I mean mike...................I am probably the only one on
here who can still see your posts!

On 21/04/2012 07:04, Steerpike wrote:
On Apr 20, 3:23 pm, wrote:
I know that many of you will be interested in this ...http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/gardening...-to-kew-on-iw-...

Mike

--

...................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight..

...................................

See what I mean mike...................I am probably the only one on
here who can still see your posts!

Er, no. I can see his posts. What is happening to VBG is of interest,
but AFAICS it was an information post not requiring a reply.

--

Jeff

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
On 21/04/2012 07:04, Steerpike wrote:
On Apr 20, 3:23 pm, wrote:
I know that many of you will be interested in this
...http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/gardening...-to-kew-on-iw-...

Mike

--

...................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo
straight..

...................................

See what I mean mike...................I am probably the only one on
here who can still see your posts!

Er, no. I can see his posts. What is happening to VBG is of interest,
but AFAICS it was an information post not requiring a reply.

--

Jeff

Thanks for your comment Jeff. Very true.

People have in fact emailed me, asking if I can recommend hotels as they
wish to visit the Island take Ventnor Botanic Gardens into their visit and
whilst I have many friends with hotels and boarding houses, making a
recommendation is difficult.

Mike


--

....................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight.

....................................

In message , Jeff Layman
writes
On 21/04/2012 07:04, Steerpike wrote:
On Apr 20, 3:23 pm, wrote:
I know that many of you will be interested in this
...http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/gardening...er-to-kew-on-i


Mike

--

...................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight..

...................................

See what I mean mike...................I am probably the only one on
here who can still see your posts!

Er, no. I can see his posts. What is happening to VBG is of interest,
but AFAICS it was an information post not requiring a reply.


"Puya raimondii is semi-carnivorous and is a plant with real attitude,
having evolved sharp, reflexed spines which entrap lamas at its base! In
the mountains, nutrient is in short supply but the rotting bodies
provide it among the impoverished boulders. "
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

On 21/04/2012 14:39, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:
In , Jeff Layman

Er, no. I can see his posts. What is happening to VBG is of interest,
but AFAICS it was an information post not requiring a reply.


"Puya raimondii is semi-carnivorous and is a plant with real attitude,
having evolved sharp, reflexed spines which entrap lamas at its base! In
the mountains, nutrient is in short supply but the rotting bodies
provide it among the impoverished boulders. "

I wondered about that. Seems a bit fanciful, but perhaps could be true
for baby llamas or other small animals. See final sentence he
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redl...sectionThreats

--

Jeff

In article , lid
says...

On 21/04/2012 14:39, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:
In , Jeff Layman

Er, no. I can see his posts. What is happening to VBG is of interest,
but AFAICS it was an information post not requiring a reply.


"Puya raimondii is semi-carnivorous and is a plant with real attitude,
having evolved sharp, reflexed spines which entrap lamas at its base! In
the mountains, nutrient is in short supply but the rotting bodies
provide it among the impoverished boulders. "

I wondered about that. Seems a bit fanciful, but perhaps could be true
for baby llamas or other small animals. See final sentence he
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redl...sectionThreats

Having seen a different puya I could well imagine the spiky foliage
could entrap fleecy animals; just as I've seen sheep unable to escape
because their fleece is caught fast on brambles here in the UK. But it
doesn't necessarily imply the plants are carnivorous :-)

Janet

On 22/04/2012 08:20, Janet wrote:
In , lid

"Puya raimondii is semi-carnivorous and is a plant with real attitude,
having evolved sharp, reflexed spines which entrap lamas at its base! In
the mountains, nutrient is in short supply but the rotting bodies
provide it among the impoverished boulders. "

I wondered about that. Seems a bit fanciful, but perhaps could be true
for baby llamas or other small animals. See final sentence he
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redl...sectionThreats

Having seen a different puya I could well imagine the spiky foliage
could entrap fleecy animals; just as I've seen sheep unable to escape
because their fleece is caught fast on brambles here in the UK. But it
doesn't necessarily imply the plants are carnivorous :-)

I think that the relevant point here is "reflexed spines". Why do some
plants have reflexed spines, if not to trap something? There are many
cacti with straight spines (some very long and very hard, eg Stetsonia
coryne), while others have shorter, but thicker spines
(Ferocactus/Echinocactus/Homalocephala). These are very efficient at
dissuading grazing animals from eating the plants, but some not only
have straight spines, but partially to fully reflexed spines.

Do these reflexed spines offer some evolutionary advantage? Maybe, in a
harsh environment where soil nutrients are in limited supply, these Puya
have developed a way of supplementing what the soil can provide.

--

Jeff