THREE TROPICAL LEAFY PLANTS

 1. The first of these unusual leafy plants belongs to the “Zebra Plant,” also known as Aphelandra sp. (Figure 1).  It is an evergreen shrub, 1 to 2 m tall, with long (up to 50 cm), simple leaves (often having white veins).  There are several species and they are grown mainly as house plants. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (4 of them)

Order Lamiales

Family Acanthaceae

Genus Aphelandra

Figure 1. "Zebra Plant"

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2. The second of these unusual leaves belongs to the “Prayer Plant,” also known as Maranta leuconeura (Figure 2). Their oval-shaped leaves are bright green and up to 12 cm long. They are tropical and native to South America and the West Indies. This plant spreads itself horizontally and can carpet and entire small area of the forest floor. 

This perennial plant has been highly cultivated to produce “arrowroot.” There are 40 to 50 species! During the day, the leaves of this plant are flat, but they fold-up at night (hence the common name “prayer plant.” Some of the species of this plant can be house plants in warm climates.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (4 of them)

Order Zingiberales

Family Marantaceae

Genus Maranta

Figure 2. "Prayer Plant."

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3. The third of these unusual leaves belongs to genus Alocsia, also known as the “elephant ear” (Figure 3). It is native to tropical and subtropical southeast Asia and northeast Australia. There are 91 accepted species! Unfortunately, this name has been used for other plants, and that is one problem with the use of “common names” of plants. There are 91 accepted species. 

This tropical to subtopical perennial plant has many cultivares and hybrids. Its cordate leaves can be up to 35 inches long. They are typically gray, with white veins. Their flowers are usually hidden behind the leaves (which have undulating edges). This plant contains chemical irritants (i.e., do not ingest it).

Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (3 of them)

Order Alismatales

Family Araceae

Genus Alocasia

Type Species A. cucullata

Figure 3. "Elephant Ear plant."

CANNA INDICA FLOWER: PART 2

On June 5, 2026, I published one of my blog posts on “An Unforgettable Flower.”  It was an example of Canna indica, about 3 feet tall, with a few red and yellow flowers, and was growing in my neighbor’s yard.

Recently, I was walking by the same neighbor’s yard and I spotted yet another similar plant that had a large all-red flower. It took some research to discover that this “new” all-red flower is a variety of Canna indica. Nevertheless, I decided to write up a new post and include an image of this additional example (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Canna indica, in a neighbor's front yard. 

Also, I recently visited a nearby garden nursery, and I recognized yet another example of this plant, and I was able confirm that this plant can reach up to 8 feet tall. I include an image of the top part of that particular flower (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Canna indica at a local commercial garden nursery. The  entire plant was about 8 feet tall--estimated.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (6 of them!)

Order Zingiberales

Family Cannaceae

Genus Canna

Type Species C. indica

I also did some new research about Canna indica  which is native to much of South America and Central America. In the following text, I present my latest findings:

Canna indica is a perennial, hardy plant that has now been introduced successfully into many countries, including much of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, southeast Asia, Australia, many Pacific islands, and the southeastern USA. It also definitely grows well here in southern California.  

Some countries look upon this beautiful flower as an invasive plant. It thrives in temperate, tropical, or subtropical climates, as well as in mountain climates, between 3,300 and 6,000 feet.

This plant is also known as “Indian Shot.” That is because its seeds are small, black pellets that resemble shotgun pellets.

A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLY

Dragonflies are very rare in my immediate neighborhood in southern California. Over the years, I have only seen the one, shown below, in our garden. The main reason for their virtual absence is that they like to like around bodies of water (canals, ponds, lakes, etc.). Such environments are several miles away from where I live.

Figure 1.  A "Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflyI" seen in Santa Clarita, southern California. This specimen is a female female and about 4 cm in length. 

The dragonfly is scientifically known as Sypetrum corruptum. Male and female dragonflies typically can have vastly different coloration, and the female specimen shown and discussed here is gray, with yellow partitions on the body. The male specimens of this dragonfly species have bright red or pink partitions. 

Sypetrum corruptum is native to North America and ranges from southern central British Columbia, along the west coast of the U.S.A. and as south as Mexico and Honduras. It is locally found in the east-coast region of the U.S.A. (including Florida).

Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Class Insecta

Order Odonata

Family Libellulidae

Genus Sympetrum

Type Species S. corruptum

The geologic time range of dragonflies is from the Pennsylvanian Period (about 315 million years ago) to present day. 

Reference

Wikipedia, 2026

CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER

This lobster lives along the coast of California, from Monterey Bay to Mexico (west coast). Interestingly, this lobster lacks claws. It lives among rocks, in depths up to 213 feet. These lobsters annually migrate (fall and winter) from shallow into deeper water.

They prefer to live among rocky bottoms in relatively deep water (e.g., as much as 213 feet deep). They feed on sea urchins, clams, worms, etc. These lobsters are nocturnal and migratory. They use acoustic sounds as a defense mechanism. They can live up to 50 years. 

Its name “spiny” is derived from the forward pointing spines on its body, which is reddish-brown in color. This lobster, which lives among rocks and can weigh up to 16 pounds (i.e., about 12 inches long), has an enlarged pair of antennae. The California “sheephead fish” is a major predator of this lobster. Other predators are the horn shark, leopard shark, octopus, and sea otters.

   Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Clade (1 of them)

Class Malacostraca

Order Decapoda

Family Palinuridae

Genus Panulirus

Type Species P. interruptus

Figure 1. A spiny lobster, via the “Aquarium of the Pacific” in southern California. 

BOBCAT IN Southern California

The bobcat (scientific name Lynx rugus) pictured here is one of four extant species of wildcats. Lynx is native to North America (southern Canada, all of the USA, Baja California Mexico, Mexico, and northern Central America. These cats become smaller in size southward. Georgia, Texas, and California have high numbers of these cats. In total, there are about 35 species of bobcats.

These cats, which live in chaparral, brush, swamps, and forest areas. They are solitary and usually nocturnal. They are opportunistic feeders, but their main prey is rabbits, mice, rats, squirrels, and ground-dwelling birds. They can climb trees. They are mostly active at night (= i.e., they are crepuscular). 

They are very efficient hunters with long, sharp, completely retractable claws, very powerful jaws, and dagger-like canines. Males and females look alike. Both have a short tail. Bobcats are usually to 30 pounds or so in weight. Definitely do not “mess” with them. Just leave them alone and have control of your dog or dogs.

Figure 1. A mature bobcat recently spotted in the city of Santa Clarita, Southern California  Note: This species has black bars on the forelegs. These bobcats can weigh up to 40 pounds and be up 50 inches long, including the tail). Also, its hind prints usually fall directly on top of its fore prints.

Many years ago, while doing geologic mapping, I came across a bobcat in open country in the hills along the north side of Simi Valley, southern California. The animal was as scared as I was and took off in a hurry. 

The on-going construction of vast housing tracts (with closely spaced homes, in previously beautiful hilly “open country”) has undoubtedly severely displaced native mammals, such as the bobcat.

Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

Order Carnivora

Family Felidae

Genus Lynx

Type Species L. rufus

Bobcats hunt rabbits but will also eat chickens, geese, and birds, as well as rodents and deer. 

Bobcats evolved from the Eurasian lynx, which crossed into North America via the Bering Land Bridge during Pleistocene (about 2.6 million years ago).

References

Macmillan Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia, 1984. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York. 600 pp. 

Wikipedia, 2026.

FREMONT COTTONWOOD TREE

Cottonwood trees are fast-growing, tall, and can be massive. Older ones have a thick, stout trunk that is grayish-brown or pale gray and marked by deep furrows, coarse ridges, and horizontal splits. These trees provide shade and windbreaks, and they help stabilize stream banks. 

These trees can live up to100 years or more (even 400 years!). Their native range is the eastern half of the USA. Today, they can found in the western half of the USA, Canada,  and Mexico.

The image shown below is a Fremont cottonwood tree growing in a public park near where I live in southern California, north of Los Angeles.

Figure 1. A Fremont cottonwood tree in Southern California.

Figure 2. A leaf from a Fremont cottonwood tree.

Figure 3. “Cotton” fluff  (with a seed visible) from a Fremont cottonwood tree.

  Classification

Kingdom Plantae

Phylum

Clades (4 of them)

Order Malpighiales

Familly Salicaceae = the Willow family

Genus Populus

Type Species P. detoides

 Female cottonwood trees produce the “cotton” (= a white fluffy material), which contains seed capsules. In late spring, these capsules split open and lease millions of tiny seeds, each attached to a tuff of “cotton.” Thus, they are contained in “parachutes” that float around in the air, until they land and sprout.

Cottonwood trees have relatively low commercial value because their wood is not that hard. It is relatively “soft” and thus used for paper making and for some furniture. It is good for wildlife habitation but a poor choice for residential landscaping. It has low heat output when burned. It is also good for wildlife habitats and for woodworking. 

Their geologic time range is early Eocene (about 50 million years ago) to the present. 

THE INSIDE OF A METEORITE

A meteorite is a piece of rock that came from outer space. It had to survive its journey through the Earth’s atmosphere and not completely “burn up.” Then it has to be found (a very rare rock to find) after hitting the Earth’s surface. 

Meteorites are between 4.50 and 4.56 billion years old (i.e., as old as the Solar System itself!).

The meteorite shown is one that survived. It was given to me by a friend (and former student), who is now deceased.

This meteorite is heavy, as many meteorites are because they consist of iron and nickel. This meteorite was sliced open (using an especially hard and sharp saw blade). 

Figure 1. Exterior of a slice (8 cm long, 6 ½ cm wide and 18 mm thick) of an iron and stony-iron meteorite that shows the exterior and interior (see Figure 2) of this meteorite.

Figure 2. Interior of the same meteorite slice shown above. The interior shows a characteristic pattern found in the interior of some meteorites; namely a geometric interlocking crystal pattern called a “Widmanstatten pattern.”