Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski)

PhD student @UHHMIN, studying diversity, ecology and evolution of geoxylic plants in Angola - plus I’m into birding and art/graphics. she/her

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

I was thinking about how to raise interest and awareness about geoxyle importance and diversity in tropical grasslands.
So I present you the #geoxyleoftheweek - Every wednesday I will post some fotos and infos about one geoxyle taxon! 1/3

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

...Tom Wells, Norbert Jürgens, @ManfredFinckh, Paulina Meller

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Finally, a great piece of collaboration got published! Several researchers from and working in Angola checked their plant collections and found 67 new records for Angola 🇦🇴 🌱

https://t.co/8ttLsHGg8c

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Thea Lautenschläger, Anne Göhre, Barbara Ditsch, @Christ_baum, Mawunu Monizi, José Lau Mandombe, Marcus Lehnert, Carel C.H. Jongkind, Hans J.G.M. Persoon, @DrMartinCheek, Alexandre Monro, @DavidGoyder, @IainDarbyshire1, Alan Paton, Fernanda Lages, ...

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@ju_mgteixeira @AleTFidelis @SoizigLS @souzaalara @LEVeg_Unesp Congratulations!!!

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@katherinebunney @ManfredFinckh Answering a similar question recently 😉
https://t.co/0qzhIPuCU8

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@fjprm Not really. The fleshy outer part dries out and rips open to release the seeds. I guess some animals will feed on the fruits (else, why would they be so big and fleshy?), but I don't know which.

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Time for #geoxyleoftheweek!
This is one of my favorite geoxyles, because it is so impressive, and for a long time I had no idea what it was. Some years ago in the rainy season, @ManfredFinckh found this big pawpaw-like fruit in a grassland on deep sandy soils. 1/

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Here is proof that the fruits are tasty, good and healthy 😉
https://t.co/CtIToshP8Z

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

This species (L.gossweileri or L.lanceolata?) is low growing, with shiny, 2-colored leaves, with terminal and axillary inflorescences. They flower in the dry season and in Dec/Jan, they bear delicious, sticky fruits. You break the shell and suck out the pulp inside. 2/

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Vejam este estudo sobre os altos valores nutricionais das plantas nativas angolanas - incluindo 2 geoxílicos, Parinari capensis e Landolphia lanceolata 🌿
https://t.co/CtIToshP8Z

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Check out this study on high nutritional values of native Angolan plants - including 2 geoxyles, Parinari capensis and Landolphis lanceolata 🌿
https://t.co/CtIToshP8Z

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@evornithology Birds are a little guys in the Wadden Sea of Germany and its a good place to stay in the Wadden Sea.

Close enough 😂

[Manfred Finckh @ManfredFinckh]

We established this permanent vegetation plot in 2001. I still like the setting ... (ca 2.5 km west of Tizi el Fugani, Ameskar, Mgoun area, Morocco)

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@fjprm Not really. The fleshy outer part dries out and rips open to release the seeds. I guess some animals will feed on the fruits (else, why would they be so big and fleshy?), but I don't know which.

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

#geoxyleoftheweek from the archives again. Check out beautiful Caloncoba suffruticosa!

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Time for #geoxyleoftheweek!
This is one of my favorite geoxyles, because it is so impressive, and for a long time I had no idea what it was. Some years ago in the rainy season, @ManfredFinckh found this big pawpaw-like fruit in a grassland on deep sandy soils. 1/

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@DavidGoyder Thanks, David!

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@DavidGoyder
How do I distinguish L. gossweileri and L. lanceolata?

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Time for #geoxyleoftheweek!
I present you Landolphia cf gossweileri (Apocynaceae), one of the characteristic species of the “Chanas de Borracha” (=rubber). This name refers to the typical latex of to the genus Landolphia, which was used to produce natural rubber. 1/

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@LCryoptic Humans for sure, monkeys as well. Maybe birds? There are several hornbill species in the area, but I never witnessed it.
Also I never saw seedlings; it seems to be easier to propagate clonally.

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Time for #geoxyleoftheweek!
I present you Landolphia cf gossweileri (Apocynaceae), one of the characteristic species of the “Chanas de Borracha” (=rubber). This name refers to the typical latex of to the genus Landolphia, which was used to produce natural rubber. 1/

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

before / after ...

(4 years of drying)

[Tim Harris @MiomboAchenes]

Yet more geoxyle treasures in the basement

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

@jess_rickenback It is, right? Evolution is crazy 😆

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Abaixo do solo, L. cf gossweileri forma rizomas lenhosos longos e esguios, alongando-se por vários metros sob a superfície do solo. É uma liana subterrânea, conservando o hábito de crescimento da sua espécie irmã de liana. 3/3

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Tempo para #geoxyleoftheweek!
Apresento-vos Landolphia cf gossweileri (Apocynaceae), uma das espécies características das "Chanas de Borracha". Este nome refere-se ao látex típico do género Landolphia, que era utilizado para produzir borracha natural. 1/

[Paulina Meller (ex P. Zigelski) @Undercovertrees]

Esta espécie (L.gossweileri / L.lanceolata?) é de crescimento baixo, com folhas brilhantes e bicolores, com inflorescências terminais e axilares. Florescem na estação seca e em Dez/Jan, dão frutos deliciosos e pegajosos. Partem a casca e sugam a polpa para fora do seu interior 2/