“Alcaparra de Jamaica” / Jamaica cappertree

A few nice perfect female shape images I found:

“Alcaparra de Jamaica” / Jamaica cappertree
perfect female shape
Image by Karen Blix
Capparis cynophallophora L.
Familia / Family: Capparaceae / Brassicaceae
Nombre local / Local name: Olivo, Olivo frijol

Nativa de La Hispaniola; El Caribe, Florida, Centroamérica, Brasil y Argentina. (GRIN)

Arbusto o árbol de hasta 15 m, hojas elípticas u oblongas, coriáceas, de 4-12 cm, obtusas y/o emarginadas, con escamitas en el envés; corimbos de pocas flores, blancas, olorosas, sépalos de 8-12 mm, reflejos, pétalos de 10-13 mm; fruto linear, toruloso, de 8-35 cm. La madera de corazón duro es de color amarillo-rojizo, dura y pesada. | Liogier, A. H. 2000. Diccionario Botánico de Nombres Vulgares de La Española. Jardín Botánico Nacional Rafael María Moscoso. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.

UNA HISTORIA DESCRIPTIVA REALMENTE INTERESANTE:

"La época de floración es generalmente de abril a julio, pero una o dos flores errantes pueden aparecer en cualquier momento durante el año. La Alcaparra de Jamaica tiene flores perfectas, lo que significa que tienen los órgantos tanto femeninos como masculinos.

Cada flor tiene varias anteras en los delgados estambres. Estos representan el equipo "masculino". Las anteras contienen los granos de polen, que son realmente gametos haploides. En el centro de la flor está la sección femenina, el pistilo, que consta de un solo estigma naranja, sobre un estilo blanco. En la parte inferior del pistilo espera un saco embrionario haploide.

A fin de que las flores se fertilicen y fructifiquen, los granos de polen tienen que llegar a la parte inferior del pistilo. El pistilo es más largo que los estambres que le rodean. ¿Cómo diablos logran los granos de polen, colgando en sacos en forma de cabezas de flamencos, saltar la distancia hasta el pistilo? ¡Bien podría estar en la luna!

Este tipo de configuración invita a la participación de polinizadores (que puede incluir todo, desde el viento a insectos como las abejas y las mariposas, a los vertebrados como aves, lagartos y los seres humanos, incluso, que son un polinizador potencial). Tenemos la teoría de que, en su mayor parte, los polinizadores son participantes involuntarios, pero quién sabe a ciencia cierta, tal vez algunos de ellos piensan en él como un deporte, o simplemente andan de paseo por el barrio. Poner los pequeños granos de polen en tantos tubos como sea posible ¡puede ser una diversión!

Los "varones", después de haber terminado su parte, se marchitan y "se ponen inconscientes" de inmediato.

Las vainas se desarrollan a partir de las flores durante julio-septiembre. Maduran en el apogeo de la temporada de lluvias. Aunque no saben bien para los humanos, las Alcaparras de Jamaica están emparentadas con las alcaparras encurtidas italianas que se puede comprar en esos frascos largos y delgados.

Cuando están maduras, las vainas se abren de golpe. Las semillas están envueltas en una masa pegajosa y grasa, una sustancia cerosa que las aves realmente disfrutan. Hemos visto varios tipos de palomas, así como arrendajos, mirlos, ruiseñores, y mucho más.

Las aves limpian el material, junto con las semillas, desechando la piel de la vaina. Parece que las aves digieren las semillas, o pasan directamente a través de su sistema digestivo. De cualquier manera, la viabilidad de las semillas comidas es baja.

La estrategia para la distribución de semillas parece estar en la viscosidad de la mezcla. Las aves son comedoras sucias, se tiran la comida encima. Las semillas se pueden pegar a los pájaros. Cuando los pájaros vuelan lejos, éstas se secan y caen, o se las limpian después. Los insectos, tales como hormigas, también desempeñan un papel en la distribución. Se alimentan de la sustancia viscosa y las semillas en el suelo.

Las semillas no son muy resistentes. En situaciones naturales, por lo general germinan cerca del árbol madre. Brotan en épocas de alta humedad, como uno podría encontrar durante la temporada de lluvias. Distribución natural se encuentra en las zonas costeras de todo el área de la Florida y el Caribe Sur." | Del artículo Jamaica Caper, publicado en Plant Creations, Inc.

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Shrub or tree up to 15 m, leaves elliptic or oblong, leathery, 4-12 cm, obtuse and / or emarginate, with small scales on the underside; corymbs of few flowers, white, fragrant, sepals 8-12 mm, reflexed petals 10-13 mm fruit linear, torulose, 8-35 cm. The hard heartwood is yellow-red, hard and heavy. | Liogier, A. H. 2000. Botanical Dictionary of the Vulgar Names Spanish. National Botanic Garden Rafael María Moscoso. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

A REALLY INTERESTING DESCRIPTION:

"The flowering season is usually from April to July, but an errant flower or two can appear anytime during the year. Jamaica Caper has perfect flowers, which means they have so-called "male" and "female" components.

In each flower, there are several anthers on slender stamens. These represent the male, or the "staminate" team. The anthers contain the pollen grains, which are really haploid gametes. In the center of the flower is the female section, the pistil, which consists of a single orange stigma, atop a white style. At the bottom of the pistil awaits a haploid embryo sac.

In order for the flowers to become fertilized and the fruits to develop, pollen grains have to reach the bottom of the pistil tubes. The pistil is slightly longer than the surrounding stamens. How the heck are the pollen grains, hanging in sacs shaped like the heads of flamingos, going to hurdle the distance up to the pistil? It might as well be on the moon!

This type of set-up depends on, or, we might say, invites the participation of, pollinators (which could include everything from the wind to insects such as bees and butterflies, to vertebrates such as birds, lizards and humans; even you are a potential pollinator). We theorize that, for the most part, the pollinators are unwitting participants, but who knows for sure; maybe some of them think of it as a sport, or are just tidying up around the neighborhood. Putting the little pollen grains into as many different tubes as possible, some kind of fun!

The males, having finished their part, immediately wither and lose consciousness.

Seed pods develop from the flowers during July-September. They ripen at the height of the rainy season. Although not palatable to humans, Jamaica Capers are related to pickled Italian capers that you can buy in those long, skinny jars.

When ripe, the seed pods burst open. The seeds are wrapped in a sticky, oily, waxy substance that the birds really enjoy. We’ve seen several kinds of doves, along with jays, blackbirds, mockingbirds, and more.

The birds scrape clean the stuff, along with the seeds, discarding the skin of the seedpod. It appears that the birds either digest the seeds, or pass them directly through their digestive systems. Either way, the viability of eaten seeds is low.

The strategy for seed distribution seems to be in the stickiness of the mixture. Birds are messy eaters, and get food all over themselves. The seeds may stick to the birds. When the birds fly away, the stuff dries out and falls off, or they clean it off later. Insects, such as ants, also play a role in the distribution. They eat the goo and the seeds drop on the ground.

The seeds are not very hardy. In natural situations, they usually germinate near the parent tree. They sprout during times of high humidity such as one would find during the rainy season. Natural distribution is located to coastal areas throughout the South Florida-Caribbean area. " | From the article Jamaica Caper, posted at Plant Creations, Inc.

Just Coming Up
perfect female shape
Image by Jocey K
Hector’s dolphin seen from the Black Cat in Akaroa harbour, day two of my friends visit from London. I took them over the Port hills to Akaroa. We had such a beautiful day and they enjoyed the trip.
The cruise is packed with highlights including the rare, NZ native dolphin – the Hector’s Dolphin, as well as penguins and other sea birds. And you’ll see giant volcanic sea cliffs and hear about Akaroa’s fascinating past. Cruises depart every day, weather permitting.

The Back Cat is modern catamaran, the 60 foot /20 metre Black Cat (previously the Canterbury Cat), is perfect for viewing the natural wonders of Akaroa Harbour.
For More Info: www.blackcat.co.nz/akaroa-harbour-nature-cruises.html

Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) is the best-known of the four dolphins in the genus Cephalorhynchus and is found only in New Zealand. At approximately 1.4 m in length, it is one of the smallest cetaceans, and New Zealand’s only endemic cetacean.

Hector’s dolphin is the smallest of the dolphins. Mature adults have a total length of 1.2–1.6 m (3 ft 10 in–5 ft 3 in) and weigh 40–60 kg (88–130 lb). The species is sexually dimorphic, with females being slightly longer and heavier than males. The body shape is stocky, with no discernible beak. The most distinctive feature is the rounded dorsal fin, with a convex trailing edge and undercut rear margin.

The overall appearance is pale grey, but closer inspection reveals a complex and elegant combination of colours. The back and sides are predominantly light grey, while the dorsal fin, flippers, and flukes are black. The eyes are surrounded by a black mask, which extends forward to the tip of the rostrum and back to the base of the flipper. A subtly shaded, crescent-shaped black band crosses the head just behind the blowhole. The throat and belly are creamy white, separated by dark-grey bands meeting between the flippers. A white stripe extends from the belly onto each flank below the dorsal fin.

At birth, Hector’s dolphin calves have a total length of 60–80 cm (24–31 in) and weigh 8–10 kg (18–22 lb). Their coloration is the same as adults, although the grey has a darker hue. Four to six vertical pale stripes, caused by fetal folds affecting the pigmentation, are present on the calf’s body until an age of about six months.
For More Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector%27s_dolphin

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