Chickenweed Purslane (Portulaca quadrifida)

Chickenweed Purslane (Portulaca quadrifida)

Native range of Chickenweed Purslane (Portulaca quadrifida) is Tropical & Subtropical Old World to Southwest Pacific Elevation: 127 meters.


Purslane (Portulaca)

Purslane (Portulaca)

A very small plant that is very easy to miss unless you get down on your knees. One of the currently five Portulaca species on Socotra Elevation: 918 meters.……


Belonogaster saussurei

Belonogaster saussurei

During bloom the widespread shrub croton socotranus is an important food source for insects of all sizes. Here the paper wasp belonogaster saussurei is…


Belonogaster saussurei

Belonogaster saussurei

A beautiful specimen of Ochradenus socotranus, untouched by livestock due to its position high up a sheer cliff face. In the morning shade from the towering…


Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

This is the second of just 3 bird species I encountered at this lagoon in the Shuab valley on the west coast of Socotra. Here a little egret (Egretta garzetta)…


Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus)

Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus)

The oxbow lake at Amazon Research and Conservation Center, deep in the Peruvian Amazon, was almost still as I watched this capped heron (Pilherodius pileatus)…


Pontederia reflexa

Pontederia reflexa

These plants grow in a pond right outside the buildings of SouthWild Pantanal. I find the long leaves quite decorative and a plant worthy of any natural…


Tropical Pickerelweed (Pontederia rotundifolia)

Tropical Pickerelweed (Pontederia rotundifolia)

At first this looks like a starved water Hyacinth, and you might pass on to find one with a grand inflorescence. When you take a closer look you’ll see that…