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Needles and pins..


Needles and pins..
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-29
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 200, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-06-09 20:02
Viewed: 1600
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Gordon's Bay pincushion
Leucospermum bolusii

Also a member of the fynbos.

Description
Leucospermum bolusii grows into a rounded shrub, about 1.5 m tall. The leaves are hairy when young, and have one apical tooth. The flowerheads are flat and rounded, about 20 mm in diameter, each one made up of 50 - 100 small tubular flowers. The buds are encased by pinkish red bracts, and the flowers are creamy white, with a strong, sweet fragrance that is very noticeable on windless evenings. Flowering time is spring to midsummer (September to December), peaking in late October to early November. The nut-like seeds drop out of the flowers about two months after flowering.

Distribution
This pincushion is found in a small area on rocky, west-facing, sandstone slopes of the mountains above Clarence Drive, between Gordon's Bay and Kogel Bay, overlooking False Bay.

Ecology
The flowers are pollinated by bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and moths. The seeds are dispersed by ants that are attracted to the fleshy skin that covers the seed, called an elaisome. The ants carry the seeds to their underground nests where they consume the elaisome, but the seed remains safe until conditions are right for them to germinate. Leucospermum bolusii is killed by fire, i.e. it is not a resprouter, but its seeds survive. Even though its distribution range is relatively small, dense stands of it occur and it is not threatened.

Derivation of the name
The genus Leucospermum is named from the Greek leukos meaning white, and sperma seed, referring to the white or light-coloured seeds of many species. This species is named after Harry Bolus (1834-1911), a South African botanist and founder of the Bolus Herbarium in Cape Town. It gets its common name from its restricted habitat above Gordon's Bay, and its Afrikaans name refers to its white flowers and the tick-like appearance of the seeds (wit meaning white, luisies are little ticks and a bos is a bush). Many other pincushions are also called luisiesbos.

The genus Leucospermum is a member of the protea family. It consists of 48 species that occur in southern Africa as far north as Zimbabwe, with the majority occurring in the winter rainfall regions of Western Cape.
lovenature, Janice, Fisher, Athila, thistle, pilonm, coasties, valy67 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Athila: Living on earth...gerhardt 1 06-15 10:18
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Gerhard,
A very exotic flower. Beautiful detail and colours. It looks like it came from another planet is so unique. Your notes are very interesting. TFS Janice

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3066 W: 231 N: 6160] (21048)
  • [2006-06-10 2:06]

I really like this presentation, Gerhard.
The color combination is beautiful, and the details in the center of the flower are very interesting and sharp. Very unusual bloom.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-06-10 4:41]

I like what you are posting lately Gerhard - my favourite subjects - flowers or ferns!! (They don't move as much as butterflies or lions!)
Very artistic shot of the Leucospermum showing off the pointed flowers and fluffy centres so well. Well presented, TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2006-06-10 13:03]

Hey there, my S.A. friend,

I like your approach on this one. Nice to see a section concentrated on and the rest oof. Nicely done. Excellent shot and well done on the composition.
A prime example of BOKEH. ;)

Mike

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2006-06-10 13:23]

Hi Gerhard,
A rare and beautiful flower that I've never seen. A great composition, that shows open and closed flowers, with a very good DOF that enhaces very well the main flower.
TFS, José M.

Hi Gerhard!

Are you living on Earth? You are showing us plants like most of us never saw before. Shallow DOF did soften focus a little, but still quite sharp. Exposure is good. Directionnal soft light is beautifull.

Nice close up and TFS.

Hi again,
This plant looks a little less striking than the one from your last post, but still it's quite exceptional. I don't think I've ever heard about plants like that.
The picture is very good technically and has perfect exposure. I like the dark BG and the colours. It seems that the tip of the flower is OOF, but that's not distracting.
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 548 W: 90 N: 871] (2919)
  • [2006-06-13 15:14]

Hello Gerhard,

Very nice picture of this very colorful flower! The colors looks so natural and I really like your pov and the dof that bring nice depths to the photo. We can easily see how delicate the flower is! Congratulations for this very good work and TFS,

Michel

Hi Gerhard

You are showing an awesome artistic side. The centre of the Leucospermum bolusii looks like an explosion. Stunning work. Excellent exposure. Congrats!

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2006-06-14 13:23]

Hi Gerhard !
What a nice flower you have found here ! Its shape and colors are so unusual, so beautiful ! An excellent composition and POV, and also excellent sharpness and details. very well done !
Valérie.

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