rgcooper2023 的日誌

Reported is a germinated example of Hypericum sp. like calycinum (Rose-of-Sharon, St John's Wort) germinated from wild seeds collected from a un-cultivated semi-woodland area in Walsall, UK. This is classically a prostrate or low-growing, evergreen, woody shrub (60cm in height, 1.2m spread) widely grown in Mediterranean climates and southeast Europe, but has also become a popular, evergreen hardy shrub globally. In the wild, it grows in the Strandja Mountains along the Bulgarian and Turkish Black Sea coast. It is a fast-growing, spreading groundcover shrub with evergreen to semi-evergreen long, oval-shaped dark-green sticky leaves. Bright rose-like yellow, five petalled flowers with a prominent calyx and whorl of sepals, bloom throughout summer-autumn. The flowers produced in June-September in UK, are 3–5 cm in diameter with numerous yellow stamens, and are either single or in clusters of 2-3. Its red berries turn black in autumn. Its green, ovate leaves grow in opposite pairs, with the undersides of the leaves been net-veined. In the sun and shade, the leaves are a vibrant green and lighter yellow-green, respectively. Hypericum spp. have been used since ancient times as herbal remedies to attenuate muscle spasms and for the treatment of asthma. It is an economically valuable plant and may be used used for ornamental reasons or landscaping in order to stabilize hills. It grows ideally in full sun to partial shade and in well-drained sandy-loamy soils. It may become invasive, due to its ability to grow rapidly by stolons and, therefore, needs pruning. It is pollinated by honey bees. It can produce adhyperforin, a medicinal compound. Furthermore, UV pigments from its flowers stave off predators like mites and aphids. These pigments also serve a dual function to attract pollinators, as they are visible to insects and not humans. Another chemical, DIP (dearomatized isoprenylated phloroglucinols), is a category of pigments alongside flavonoids, which was found to be toxic to a species of caterpillar. Ethanol-extracts have antidepressant properties and are as effective as desipramine and trimipramine.

Described is a solitary wild snail progressing across garden paving stones following uprooting of unwanted plants in a garden bed. This non-threatened species has a shell height (15-16 mm), width (16-22 mm). It possesses a glossy, smooth shell, which has five variable spiral dark bands and a white lip around the shell opening. The body of the snail is usually greenish-grey becoming yellow towards the rear. This snail lives in a range of densely-vegetated habitats, including waste ground, woodland, hedgerows and grassland. In dry conditions it is observed tightly attached to rocks, tree trunks or fences. The preferred food plants of this snail include Nettles, Ragwort and Hogweed. Although these snails posses both male and female organs, and are capable of self reproduction, they usually mate with another snail between spring and autumn. Courtship begins with a snail piercing the skin of its partner with a 'love dart' made of calcium carbonate. Once this ritual has taken place mating can begin. The snails then part ways and both partners lay their eggs buried in soil. A clutch is often in excess of 100 eggs takin ca. 1 month to hatch. Juvenile snails develop a soft shell which hardens and grows with them as they mature. The white-lipped snail is not currently considered under threat.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Location: 27/5/2024, Rushall Canal between Gillity and Fiveways Bridges, Park Hall, Walsall, UK

A lone, sedentary, resident, silent moorhen (ca.30cm) was spotted perched on matted reeds, perhaps a nest, located on the edge of Rushall Canal beyond Gillity Bridge (date engraved 1866). It had an impressive black plumage and a classic red bill with a pointed, yellow tip. Its legs were a pale yellow-green. It repeatedly moved its head to the left and gazing across the surface of the canal waters. Known to eat plants like duckweed, pondweed, seeds and berries, it is also partial to earthworms, snails, spiders, insects, small fish and eggs of other birds. Breeding between March-August, a nest is constructed among aquatic plants, eggs are incubated for 21 days, sometimes shared by other hens, and both parents and the young from earlier broods feed to chicks. Being fed up to 45 days, they become independent at 52-99 days. Conservation issues arise from canal side management that removes bankside vegetation, and maintenance of canal banks must be on a rotational basis where some areas are left uncut. Feral mink, foxes and large pike, may be a threat to adult birds and/or their chicks. There are ca.270,000 breeding pairs in UK.

Mute swan (Cygnus olor)

Location: 27/5/2024, Rushall Canal between Gillity and Fiveways Bridges, Park Hall, Walsall, UK

A remain-on-territory nesting pair of protected (since 1387) mute swans (ca. 4 years old) were spotted, the hen of which had moved her nest to a new location at the end of a garden adjacent to a hedge alongside Rushall Canal. Their former, still visible, nest was located ca.100 yards beyond Gillity Bridge (date engraved 1866), constructed of sticks and lined with soft down feathers. Whilst the cock swam about within the vicinity, presumably guarding the nest, the clutch of eggs was unknown, but, ordinarily, number 5-7/nest, hatching after 36 days. The hen was always seen incubating her eggs, dragging down feathers under her belly, and, as there were no signets in sight, one could presume that either a fox or large pike had probably eaten them. There was no indication of vandalism nor of lead poisoning from fishing weights (banned in 1987). The cock was very friendly and swam right up to the canal’s edge to eat bread crumbs and other treats offered from pedestrian walkers. It was large (ca. 1.30m) with a long, graceful, S-shaped neck and pointed tail. It had a classic orange bill with a black knob base and its head feathers were a dull yellow-orange. It was constantly scooping its bill in the shallow water of the canal and eating floating bits of bread, pondweed, algae and snails. There are ca.25,000 breeding pairs in UK.

Described is the collection of a segment of the Peanut cactus (Lobivia silvestrii) in Mabelreign, Harare, Zimbabwe and planting it in sandy soil in a pot, with the resultant impressive, deep red floral display. It's accepted scientific name is also Echinopsis chamaecereus and Chamaecereus silvestrii, and its different names may be associated with the fact that it was initially collected by botanist Carlo Spegazzini, but not located in later expeditions of Roberto Kiesling, who instead described Echinopsis sp. Lobivia/Echinopsis sp. is found in Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. The prolific cacti stems are globular with fine spines (vestigial leaves), the flowers are a deep red-orange colour and are large and funnel-shaped with a short tube. The large attractive flowers have three sets of radial petals: eight inner, middle and outer, respectively. There is a preponderance of short, radially situated anthers in the middle of which is a large stigma. The flowers are non-scented and wither are a few days. The finger-like stems are a pale green and are initially erect but then become prostrate and curve downward. The plants are cylindrical or globose in shape and require a moderately rich compost consisting of 1 parts of loam, leaf soil and sharp sand, and 0.5 part dry cow/herbivore manure. Off-sets are easily separated, root easily and should be pointed upwards, placed in the sunshine and grown to produce specimen cacti. This cactus is easy to cultivate in pots containing well-drained sandy soil which are watered once a week, and it flowers abundantly in the summer. They can survive outside in freezing conditions, but are more prone to rotting, so, ideally, they should be kept indoors and preferably on a windowsill (Cooper, 2022). Possible parasitic infestations include mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites.
Reference: Cooper, R.G. 2022. Plants & Wild Species. E-book/Print. Lulu Press Inc., Morrisville, N.C., U.S.A. pp. 30.

A fantastic and impressive example of Fatsia japonica (Araliaceae) (Japan and South Korea) observed growing outdoors (in the U.K.). Commonly known as the castor oil plant or fig leaf palm, it grows up to 4m in a decade. An evergreen shrub with 7-8 dicotyledonous splayed, leathery, palmately lobed leaves, and small white flowers in terminal compound umbels, it produces a beautiful cluster of ornamental, non-edible black berries. It grows well in moist and well-drained soils in partial shade and can be propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings. Cultivated, it likes rocky and informal, courtyard and banked gardens. It can be adversely affected by scale insects, thrips, mealybugs, leaf spot and honey fungus.

Native to Zimbabwe, the southern giant African pouched rat is also common in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The doe is matriarchal and is supported by nurse rats when suckling her pups (1-3/litter). Adult males weigh 1.5 to 2.0 kg and females weigh 1.2 to 1.6 kg . Their cheek pouches are used to collect food which they carry back to their colonies which are then stored in food larders. From their nose to the tip of their tail, they are ca.70-80 cm with dark brown to reddish fur on their backs and a pale belly. The tail is bi-coloured, brown with white at the distal third of the tail. Bucks scent mark using cheek and anogenital rubbing, in addition to urine. Mitochondrial cytochrome b phylogeny demonstrated that they are unique and distinct from C. gambianus. They are very easily tamed and within one hour of capture, readily take a slice of bread from their human handler. After training with rewards of mashed banana, they are extremely useful to humans including in unexploded ordinance, tuberculosis and drug detection.

A laboratory study of crosses of captive fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster)

There are ca.1,500 species of Drosophila sp. which are found in multiple habitats. The fly originated in tropical West Africa and breeds in a variety of rotting fruits. They are saprophytic, feeding and ovipositing in rotting plant, and, sometimes, animal matter. They are holometabolous, undergo metamorphosis and are ideally housed in a laboratory at 18-25°C. Stocks of infrequently used strains are often kept at lower temperatures in order to slow down development. Under normal circumstances, at 18°C, complete development takes ca.3 weeks. In the current investigation, two captive sub-types were chosen: Wild (long winged, pale striped abdomen, WWSS) and Vestigial (short winged, ebony striped abdomen, wwss) Type. Flies were stilled in ice and sexed on a cold tray. Three Wild Type of each sex were chosen and mated with the opposite sex of three Vestigial Type. Three of the subsequent F1 generation (WwSs, 1:0) were collected and mated and the ratio of the F2 phenotype noted. Each glass vial contained pre-prepared nutrient agar. Commonly used in college and university laboratories, these flies form an important molecular model in Biological research, are cheap to rear, can be studied based on inherited alleles, and used to predict the likelihood of genetic diseases and their progression in humans.

Garden snails appearing in potted, windowsill plants: circular snails (Vallonia exentrica or V. pulchella); elongated snail (Cochlicopa lubrica).

Observations of elongated and concentric snails, in potted, windowsill plants (indoor ambience: 15°C & 73% RH) prompted their removal and examination initially with a Tor-Deluxe Triple Tested 600X (eyepiece lenses: 10X & 15X; stage objective lenses: 8X, 20X & 40X; magnifications: 80X & 120X, 200X & 300X, and 400X & 600X, respectively) five aperture portable optical microscope (25cm in height). The magnified image at 80X was considerable. Two varieties were observed: elongated, tapered shell (one of 5mm) and spiral, concentric shell (six of 2mm). Their shells were pale cream in colour which darkened after feeding. Their propensity to accumulate in clusters on soil clods, bits of bark, stems and the sides of pots, was evident. Soil mixes were created from local patches, used tea leaves, chopped banana skins, sand and garden mulch (ref. Cooper, R.G. 2023. Plants & Wild Species. The Netherlands: Lulu Press Ltd.). However, their identity remains unknown. Location: Highgate and Caldmore, Walsall, UK.

Their rapid reproduction and propensity to eat the vegetation of potted plants, can be a significant consideration to the serious indoor plant cultivator.

Fava (broad) bean (Vicia faba) (Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Fabales, Family: Fabaceae). An experiment was conducted in which within-date broad bean seeds were sowed into agar blocks soaked and submerged for 15 minutes in tap water (control), auxin and gibberellin (n=6). The germination thereof was monitored, being especially significant over 4 weeks in the gibberellin plants. Regular fine-sprays of these plant hormones, in addition to tap water, were performed every two days, into the respective pots. Rapidly germinating, broad beans are suitable experimental plants for students/enthusiasts studying botany or agriculture, and an understanding of their nutrition contribution, is an essential part of the curricula of human and animal studies. A Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient Test (p<0.05) was performed by week of the expected previously published mean growth rate data vs. the experimental recordings. Gibberellin seedlings attained a height of ca.15cm after 4 weeks under lamp (ca.65% RH, ca.21°C). Average mature leaf length was 5-5.9cm and occupied a ventral area (perimeter tracing on graph paper: half or more of a 1cm2 area taken as a full square) of ca.10-15cm2. All leaves had a strong, mulch-humus scent at pick, and, indeed, the beans strongly flavour food recipes like falafel. The plant is a species of vetch and widely cultivated as a crop for human consumption or as a cover crop. Some varieties are fed to herbivores, e.g. horse bean (V. faba var. equina). Rarely, individuals suffering from a metabolism disorder Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDD), develop a haemolytic response after consumption of boiled broad beans, whether dried or fresh. When the outer seed coat has been removed, the beans may be consumed raw or cooked, in addition to eating fresh seed pods in younger plants. The wild ancestor remains unknown, although charred broad beans were discovered at three Neolithic sites in Israel’s Lower Galilee region; radiocarbon dating thereof suggested that the domestication of this crop may have commenced at ca.8,250BC. As a cover crop, they are grown to prevent erosion as they can overwinter and, as a legume, they fix nitrogen (via Rhizobium sp.). Preferring rich loam soils, this species’ robustness means that it can withstand very cold climates, grow in soils with high salinity and also in waterlogged clay soil. Nutrient composition of broad beans includes ca.11% water, 58% carbohydrates, 26% protein and 2% lipid. Energy supply includes 1,425kJ/100g. Folate (106% Daily Value, DV) and manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and iron (52-77% DV), are significant. B-vitamins are present in moderate-rich proportions (19-48% DV). Broad beans present the highest protein:carbohydrate vs. pulses, e.g. chickpea, pea and lentil. Their consumption along with cereals is recommended as they supply essential amino acids (out of the 20 recognised). Harvesting usually commences in spring for plants grown in glass-houses, whereas horse beans harvested in late autumn, are consumed as a pulse. Young leaves and immature pods can be eaten raw or cooked. Beans removed from their pods can be steamed or boiled whole or, following parboiling, to loosen their exterior coat which is then discarded. Beans can also be fried resulting in the skin splitting open and then salted and/or spiced to present a savoury, crunchy snack.

Further investigations including the use of thin layer chromatography performed on crushed broad bean leaves in acetone and separation thereof in the dark using a volatile chromatography solvent. The chromatogram results of two separate experiments, show photosynthetic pigments separated out by relative molecular mass, adhesion and solubility, and are identified by qualitatively (by colour) and quantitatively (by Rf value).

Colour Rf value Pigment
Yellow 0.95 Carotene
Grey-brown 0.83 Phaeophytin
Yellow-brown 0.71 Xanthophyll
Blue-green 0.65 Chlorophyll a
Green 0.45 Chlorophyll b