8 May, 2008
May 24, 2008 5:04am Week #8
The sun was just rising as I once again got out of the car at the trailhead to the sound of dueling whip-poor-wills. One night I will record them. This soundscape has a featured knocker, the piliated woodpecker was a prominent caller this morning towards the end of the recording, in addition to other birds that I haven’t yet identified.
While the air traffic was limited today, I did notice some sort of farm machinery in the distance, the recording location is less than a mile away from some agricultural fields and a pastoral farm. Usually they are quiet save for the occasional cock-a-doodle-do..
This weeks recording:
On the way out I noticed what appeared to be an albino plant, is this possible? See the photo below, does anyone know what this is?
Tony Celis said,
May 28, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
As always…beautiful recordings!!
V Maietta said,
June 25, 2009 @ 6:36 pm
That’s Bittersweet. They’re usually green, but I found a white one near my house today. I don’t know why it doesn’t have any pigment but I’m going to do some research.
V Maietta said,
June 25, 2009 @ 6:53 pm
“Unless the plant is parasitic or saprophytic, leaf albinism is generally a
fatal trait (can’t produce its own food and it’s not getting it from
anything else). ”
I also read that it can’t assimilate carbon dioxide either. So, I guess it’s a tough-luck of genetic sequencing. Bittersweet reproduces by underground roots and seed dispersal by birds who eat the berries. Either these plants grew from seed and will reach their peak and die quickly, or they are variegated off-shoots that sequester nutrients from the parent plant.
I hope this helps a little. Plants are soooooo complex, but so interesting and beautiful.
gweddig said,
June 25, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
Thanks for that research, I got about as far before something else diverted my attention. Thanks again for posting.
–greg