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My 5th Birthday- It's purple of course


My 5th Birthday- It's purple of course
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2285 W: 5 N: 5300] (18714)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-10-22
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC HX1, Sony G lens 20x Optical zoom, Digital ISO 125
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2013-01-04 2:56
Viewed: 3714
Points: 74
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Erepsia pillansii / Catherine wheel

Today I am celebrating my 5th birthday on the site and the journey from posting the first image up to the one of today has been very enjoyable for me. It has given me many good friends across the globe. I have completed 5 years of ever memorable association with my Trek Nature friends. I think the best gift I could ever receive today is if the older stalwarts return to the site. It will give not only me but lots of fellow members great joy.

Thank you my friends for making this place so special, and for showing me all the beauty of our world right in the comfort of my own home. I have to thank all of you as it is too difficult to choose or favour one over the other. There is however one person I would like to point out and that is my dear other half Loot, who initiated the wonderful topic of photography to me. He showed me how to love all of Creation and everything involved with nature and although absent from Trek Nature he is still my main enthusiast, critic and advisor.

For those of you who do not know: I love this wonderful colour called purple. No matter if the tint is violet, lilac, lavender, periwinkle, grape, plum or mauve. Any shade of purple makes me joyful and I want to thank everybody that unknowingly spoils my eyes and heart by placing an image containing the colour purple.

As I celebrated all my other birthdays with something purple, today's cannot be different and once again I want to share an image containing this beautiful colour.

Description
An erect shrublet with striking magenta and white flowers, Erepsia pillansii is endemic to the Piketberg Mountains. A sparsely branched succulent shrub which grows to a height of 80cm. The falcate leaves are bluish-grey and have a diameter of approximately 5mm, the branches are a reddish-brown and have a diameter of 4-8mm. The magenta flowers are borne in a flat-topped inflorescence, and two opposite branches arise below each terminal flower. The petals are white at the base and purple at the ends, these are paddle shaped and very distinct for this species. It has white filamentous (thread-like) staminodes (sterile stamens) and the flower is 30-60mm in diameter. The fruit capsules are 13mm in diameter with 10 locules per capsule. The main flowering period is in the spring (August to September) and this species flowers prolifically after a fire.

Conservation status
It is listed as Vulnerable on the South African Red List. Threats include the clearing of natural vegetation for orchards, buchu farming and vineyards. Alien invasive plants, especially pines, are a major threat to the future of this species. Other threats include development of resorts, the construction of large dams and incorrect fire regimes in the area where this plant occurs. The results are that the natural habitat of Erepsia pillansii is fragmented and disjunctive.

Distribution and habitat
Also known as the The Piketberg vygie, it grows on sandstone soils and can be found at altitudes between 500 and 1000m. Marloth described this species as 'abundant' in the Mouton Valley in the Piketberg area in 1922. Since then the habitat in this valley has been highly modified by dams and agriculture. It can now only be found on slopes and on land unsuitable for farming.

Derivation of name and historical aspects
The name Erepsia is derived from the Greek erepso, I shall hide. The species epithet pillansii commemorates Neville Stuart Pillans (1884–1964), a well-known Cape botanist. Originally described in 1908, under the genus Mesembryanthemum, this plant was reclassified in 1940 and was the only member of the genus Kensitia named in honour of Dr (Mrs.) L. Bolus (née Kensit). In 1989 the genus Erepsia was revised and Kensitia was included under Erepsia as it is similar in leaf and fruit structure, only differing in its odd-shaped petals. Erepsia species do not close their petals at night unlike many other mesembs. All species within this genus are endemic to the Cape Floristic Region.

Ecology
Erepsia pillansii grows on sandstone slopes in the fynbos which is a fire-driven ecosystem. This species is a re-seeder which means that the adult plant is killed by fire and starts afresh from seedlings. Without fire the plants become tall and woody and their seed production is reduced. They are pollinated by bees and monkey beetles. They generally only grow for 3–8 years before they become untidy and need replacement. The woody seed capsules open when it rains and release the seeds which are dispersed by the rain drops. Source

I hope you enjoyed looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
Hormon_Manyer, Ozgur70, ramthakur, oldferret, nagraj, McQueenca, CeltickRanger, ellis49, Ilducabianco, marius-secan, maaciejka, samiran88, flashpoint, yiannis, tomcezar, Chiza, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2013-01-04 3:03]

Hello Anna,
wow this is a lovely flower and you have done justice to it by having the skillful composition put into it.
The details and the colors are rally splendid.
The freshness and the pleasant feeling is achieved very well here.
Excellent presentation and Congratulations for the 5th year here .
All your images are splendid.

Best regards
Foozi

Ciao Anna, congratulations for your five years on TN and thanks for all your beautiful photo, great macro of lovely flower, wonderful bright colors, splendid light, excellent sharpness and fine details, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2013-01-04 3:33]

Purple...off course! And what a fantastic purple,very special to celebrate yout 5th year on TN,a magnificent flower and a fantastic macro whit the best exposure,details and colors,i like it! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

Hi Anna,
First of all congratulations for your 5th birthday on TN. I remember from the old times your fav is purple - so no reason to not stick to the tradition. Beautiful photo, incredible sharpness, and the purple... is really purple. Stunning colors and exposure control. About the composition: I'd prefer a totally symmetric one with squared crop - but the fact that my idea is a little different than yours doesn't mean I don't like your original version. Congratulations again for the birthday and thanx for sharing the great photo.
Best regards, László

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-01-04 3:37]

Hello Anna,
Splendid photo to celebrate this milestone. CONGRATULATIONS! And thanks for all your efforts to hold back the old members. It's a great joy to see you participate on this site. And you are an excellent example as photographer for a lot of us. Thanks.
Regards,
Peter

Happy birthday.... :)
Very interesting flower. Thanks for informations also...

Congratulations on your 5th anniversary on TN, Anna!
Though Loot has left a large vacuum by his absence here for nearly 5 years, you have, all the same, kept us indirectly in touch with him through your remarkable and outstanding work from SA. Needless to say, the purple flower you have chosen for the occasion is also symbolic of your zest for nature, aesthetics and nature at large. It is a beautiful composition in which purple colour really makes its presence felt.
Wishing you all the best for your next anniversary,
Ram

Hi Anna,
What a stunning flower, great clarity and colour and wb.
Congratulations on your five years on TN, and may you continue to show us parts of SA and give your very welcome comments and critiques.
Thanks for sharing.
Very Best Regards Bill

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2013-01-04 5:23]

Hi,
Congrats! very special flower and color to celebrate your birthday..lovely one..tfs.
nagraj.v

Hi Anna
Happy Anniversary! Amazing flower, amazing colour, the only thing i am missing is the scent.
Thank you for sending what you could, half way around the world to me. A fantastic image.
Best regards
Colin

Hello Anna

Happy 5th anniversary on TN, excellent macro of
this flower, with beautiful light, excellent focus,
sharpness, details, and contrast, TFS

Asbed

Hello Anna,
Congratulations on your fifth anniversary here and what a fabulous image to celebrate it with. Purple, of course, and a very beautiful hue of that colour. The definition is fantastic too and in very adequate DOF. Looking forward to many more photo's from you. Best wishes.
Neels

Hello Anna,
Congratulations on your 5th Birthday in TN, time really flies really off ;-)
It has been a great pleasure to have you all the time.
Of course, so are you celebrating with something purple.
A very nice picture with good sharpness and very nice colors.
Have a good evening
Regards
Gert

Hello Anna,
Remarkable photo. This interesting species of flowering plant has wonderful colors. The contrast against the background is superb. Very nice composition taken from a excellent POV with lovely light. Congratulations for your 5th birthday on TN. Outstanding details and colors as usual.
Thanks for sharing this beauty!
Marius.

Hello Anna,
CONGRATULATIONS on Your fifth anniversary!
Nice to see all your excellent photos like e.g. this one.
Excellent use of light. Amazing colours. Perfect sharpness.
I'm looking forward to seeing all Your photos in the future.
Best regards,
Maciek

Hello Anna,
Congratulation with best wishes,
very lovely picture to suet the occasion.
best wishes,
samiran

Anna congratulations for the anniversary of five years with TN .. (my in few months will be six) ... and the color purple, your favorite, for this wonderful Erepsia pillansii, an endemic flower of the South African,a vulnerable specie in the Red List...
sERGIO

hello Anna
Congratulation with your 5 th year on TN
and allways with a happy comments on others picture,s
and you have her also a beauty with super colours and great details
thanks for all Anna
gree ting lou

Hello Anna,

Happy 5th anniversary! This capture is certainly a very nice way to celebrate this event, all the qualities of your pictures are here: sensitivity, nice subject, great colors, great care given to shooting. I hope you will stay here for a long time.
Best regards, Philippe.

Hello Anna,
Excellent photograph, excellent sharpness, excellent composition, excellent background and lighting.
TFS,
Matrix

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2013-01-04 20:15]

Hello Anna, and Congratulations on your 5th. year anniversary here on TN.
I am awed at the clarity and exceptional detail your Sony Cybershot DSC HX1 seems to always produce. This image looks so real I believe I can actually smell the fragrance from my chair here in Ohio.
I have to agree with you that the color purple is an eyecatcher, but for me blue is definitely one of my favorites when it comes to flowers.
What a unique and delicate looking bloom which has charcteristics like no other flower I know off. It's interesting to read how fire plays such a vital role in it's overall survival. Your notes as usual are very informative.
Ron

Hello Anna
A striking image of this beautiful flower.
Good dark background, excellent light and detail.
Happy 5th birthday!
regards yiannis

Hi Anna,

Interesting species and interesting composition. The color is stunning. The focus is excellent. Thanks for the kind words. TFS.

Al the best, Cezar.

Hello Anna,
Excellent capture of a beautiful flower having an unique form and lovely colour,nice POV and very well balanced composition.
TFS and my regards,
Joy

  • Great 
  • senn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 2 N: 155] (1384)
  • [2013-01-05 4:57]

superb detail and colours with this, Anna, .. it sounds like a poem, .. effective expo and bg managing too

best wishes

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2013-01-05 7:32]

Hello Anna,
Congratulations on your 5 years on TN. I have enjoyed both the subject and quality of your images, well represented by this fine capture of this striking wild purple flower that is new for most of us on TN.
Thanks and best wishes for 2013!
Ivan

Hello Anna, Congratulations for your 5 years in TN! Your photos are always interesting and beautiful! This is also an impressive photo with very good composition, fantastic colours and great sharpness! Interesting and beautiful plant too!
Regards,
Christodoulos

  • Great 
  • Chiza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 474] (5351)
  • [2013-01-05 16:32]

Hola Anna, otra hermosa foto que nos muestra con un manejo perfecto de la luz y la composición; una flor muy hermosa con un color muy bello y me gusta tambien el fondo de la toma...saludos y felicitaciones...

  • Great 
  • IronM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 3 N: 345] (2608)
  • [2013-01-06 4:40]

Hi Anna,
beautiful macro of this lovely flower,
amazing details and colors !
Congratulations for your fifth Anniversary on TN !
Best regards !

Hi Anna,first let me say congrats on making five years on TN and may you do another five.The colour purple is a colour I like to see as well and my first bicycle back in the 60s was a purple coloured coaster with high rise handles and a banana seat,I rather enjoyed my purple bike,so purple has a fond memory for me.I used to collect radios and the rarest colours were the purple ones followed by orange,I digress,suffice to say I too like purple.

This flower you have graced TN with has a very sharp focus on it with clear and clean colours,nicely captured in an airy natural light.Thanks for sharing the purple pleaser with us all.

Bob

  • Great 
  • hsn6a Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 160 W: 0 N: 435] (8652)
  • [2013-01-08 1:04]

Hello Anna,
how much of this beautiful flower,
excellent details,
thanks and regards..

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2013-01-08 10:21]

Merhaba Anna,
renkleri netliğiyle harika olmuş, tebrikler, saygılarımla.

Ciao Anna. TFS so much pearls during five years! Congratulations MF!

Roberto

Hi Anna,
firstly congratulations for the 5th year.
Nice photo in superb sharpness and details. TFS
Regards
Sami

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Excellent post,.Has aconsseguit una obra d'art pel que fa a la coloració. Espero veure't molt de temps per TN. Grŕcies per la fotografia.
Salutacions cordials. Ferran

Hello Anna.
You have chosen a beautiful flower to celebrate your 5th year with TN. I still remembered your first upload of beautiful kingfisher and you have shared many beautiful images since. Lovely light and details in this shot and all the best to you in the future.
Thanks and have a nice day.
Jusni

Hello Anna,
Happy birthday.... :) Too late!!! So what :)
Very nice flower. Thanks,
Biswarup

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