carniverous plants

[DrewB]

Spent the weekend up in the waipoua forest planting 3 and 5 yr old kauri trees. The trees were from seeds we picked from tane mahuta and te matua ngahere- the father and lord of the forest, both aged at about 2300yrs(and bloody huge). The steward of the forest is Stephen King, a man who knows more about the life that is the forest than anyone else. On the roadside driving through the forest he stopped to show us these tiny plants-a couple of years ago he got the road moved to create more habitat for them. and these plants are tiny, god knows how he ever found them in the first place.

[DrewB]

also saw a fungi that lives in a bug. the bug inhales the spore, the spore germinates inside the bug and produces a stem about 4 inches long up through the bugs skull. This then releases more spores. unfortunately my camera had died by then-an absolutely crazy looking thing. next time im there i will try and get pics if i find a specimen.

[Taupotreeman]

Nice find Drew. Look a bit like the sundew. Can't wait to see the bug photos on your next trip.

[Ewan Murray]

Cool photos Drew!

[Fungus]

also saw a fungi that lives in a bug. the bug inhales the spore, the spore germinates inside the bug and produces a stem about 4 inches long up through the bugs skull. This then releases more spores. unfortunately my camera had died by then-an absolutely crazy looking thing.

 

Drew,

Nice documentation of an endemic sundew species. And the fungus living on the bug probably is a Cordyceps species.

[easy-lift guy]

Def. a sun dew, parasitic relationship between the fungus/bug as well.

easy-lift guy

[Rob Murison]

Sundew, Drosera sp. - used to grow these in Cambridge Botanics, very interesting genera along with the other carnivorous plants. great spot! Other species of these can be found in many uk streams and bogs so keep eyes peeled!

Rob

[RobRainford]

also saw a fungi that lives in a bug. the bug inhales the spore, the spore germinates inside the bug and produces a stem about 4 inches long up through the bugs skull. This then releases more spores. unfortunately my camera had died by then-an absolutely crazy looking thing. next time im there i will try and get pics if i find a specimen.

 

Cordyceps? If so they are freaky and awesome!

 

Cool plants

[Fungus]

Cordyceps?

 

Rob,

Yes, such as Cordyceps militaris, a parasite living on pupae of butterflies.

[David Humphries]

Spent the weekend up in the waipoua forest planting 3 and 5 yr old kauri trees. The trees were from seeds we picked from tane mahuta and te matua ngahere- the father and lord of the forest, both aged at about 2300yrs(and bloody huge).

 

What a fantastic program to be involved with.

 

Nice one Drew, very jealous

 

Are both the Trees still producing ample & viable seed ?

 

 

Any shots of the planting ?

 

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