Re: Isoplexis chalcantha & a Canary Is query
Liz W wrote:
>I visited three of the Canary Islands in the early 60's and was astounded
>by the differences in climates. As I remember, Tenerife had lush
>vegetation and a very mild climate (sort of a rainy San Francisco bay
>area,) Lanzarote was a dry, sandy, windswept desert full of imported
>cactus, and Gran Canary had tropical beaches and mountains. The
>differences
>were truly extraordinary.
I've spent a lot of time over there and my keen interest in
sub-tropical and tropical plants was largely as a result of spending
long summer holidays in Tenerife when I was a young boy. Every island
is markedly different with desert, tropical, sub tropical and alpine
conditions occurring - sometimes all on one island - Tenerife in
particular. The laurel forests are a fascinating environment with
lichens taking up the same role as spanish moss in the SE States.
Various Isoplexus can be seen if you hunt around a bit and the common
'weeds' are often treasured tender perennials back home. I think
that due to its huge variability, Tenerife has to be my favourite,
although it is heavily commercialised and little more than a concrete
jungle set in a barren dessert to the south. It is, or at least was a
favourite haunt sun worshippers who seem to ignore all warnings of
skin carcinoma and shed their clothes in an attempt to develop a
strong resemblance to over-ripe prunes as quickly as possible. THey
are welcome to it.
More northern parts of the island are superb and virtually tropical
with winter temperatures rarely dipping below 18C at night, although
due to frequent, extensive cloud cover, daytime highs usually remain
comfortably at around 30 - 33C. Bananas, poinsettias, Alpinias,
Aroids of every description and all manner of tropical plants grow
with lush abandon close to the coast, whereas further up inland,
slightly cooler conditions allow for extensive vineyards and the like.
I can never tire of the place and have every intention of retiring
there - when that time comes. When I first set foot in the place back
in the very early '60s I said then I would live there one day. For
me, that day cannot come too soon.
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
