Spotted calla lily (Zantedeschia albomaculata)

Spotted calla lily (Zantedeschia albomaculata) is a species of plant in the Araceae, annual herb, rhizomatous, always green if rainfall and temperature are sufficient, deciduous if there is a dry season, up to 100 cm tall with erect leaf and flower stalks.

Z. albomaculata has clusters of dark green leaves with white spots, broad arrow-shaped, up to 45 cm long. The leaf stalk is up to 60 cm long, cylindrical in shape with a linear depression.

Inflorescences are large and with pure white spathe, length up to 15 cm, width up to 15 cm, sheet width up to 20 cm. Spadix is up to 9 cm long, yellow and produces a faint, sweet aroma. Flowers have long stalks up to 75 cm.

This species grows on the banks of rivers or ponds and wet places, sandy or rocky areas, streams, mountain grasslands with an elevation of 20-2250 meters. Growth likes damp places and lots of water.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Zantedeschieae
Genus: Zantedeschia
Species: Zantedeschia albomaculata
Subspecies: Zantedeschia albomaculata ssp. albomaculata, Zantedeschia albomaculata ssp. macrocarpa

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia)

Bellyache bush ( Jatropha gossypiifolia ) is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae. It is a shrub, growing 2.5–4 meters tall. The leaves are three-lobed, up to 13 cm long and 13 cm wide, sticky, with spiny margins, purple when young and green as they mature. The petioles are up to 9 cm long, dark red to brown, and have yellow spikes. The flowers are small, fan-shaped, dark red with yellow centers. The fruit is ovoid; young fruits are green. Older fruits are brown, dry, and burst to release the seeds. Taxon: Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Euphorbiaceae Subfamily: Crotonoideae Tribe: Jatropheae Genus: Jatropha Species: Jatropha gossypiifolia Variety: Jatropha gossypiifolia var. elegans, Jatropha gossypiifolia var. gossypiifolia Publications: Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers. Balakrishnan, N.P. & Cha...

Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar (Amanita javanica)

OPINION - Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar ( Amanita javanica ) is a mysterious fungus species and has been enigmatic since it was first reported by Boedijn in 1951 and after that no explanation or reporting of specimens is believed to be the same as expected. Boedijn (1951) described A. javanica which grew on Java island as having the characteristics covered in the Amanita genus. Corner and Bas in 1962 tried to describe Javan mocca and all species in Amanita based on specimens in Singapore. Over time some reports say that they have found A. javanica specimens in other Southeast Asia including also China, Japan, India and Nepal. But there is no definitive knowledge and many doubt whether the specimen is the same as described by Boedijn (1951). I was fortunate to have seen this species one afternoon and soon I took out a camera for some shots. In fact, I've only met this mushroom species once. Javan mocca is an endangered species and I have never seen in my experience in...

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