CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt

Convergent Leaf Traits in Minas Gerais Brazil

Added 2024-04-07 02:22:03 +0000 UTC

In this episode we make a trek to see the recently-described xerophytic bromeliad Encholirium agavoides in the mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil but get distracted by the evolutionarily-convergent leaf morphology exemplified by all these incredible goddamn plants. Plants take on otherworldly forms on the nutrient-poor, ancient metamorphosed sandstone in this unique habitat, many of them possessing sessile leaves that clasp the stem and overlap each other like snake scales or roofing shingles, which seems to be an adaptation to both the nutrient-poor soil chemistry and the long dry season in this seasonally-dry tropical habitat.

Plants featured include :

Kielmeyera sp.

Mikania sessilifolia (Asteraceae)

Declieuxia deltoidea (Rubiaceae)

Chamaecrista vauthieri (Fabaceae)

Dasyphyllum reticulatum (Asteraceae)

Cipocereus minensis (Cactaceae)

Lychnophora ericoides (ASteraceae)

Vellozia nivea (Velloziaceae)

Richterago (Asteraceae)

Lagenocarpus sp. (Cyperaceae)

Aulonemia effusa (Poaceae)