As we were about to enter the Devil's Slide trail in Pacifica, CA, which I posted about here, I could not believe my eyes......... hillsides filled with tall cone like plants that truly looked like something only seen in Dr, Suess's imagination, not actually in real life! Wow, wow wow, it truly felt like I'd landed on another planet! Upon closer inspection, I did realize that this plant had quite a few similarities to my beloved Pride of Madeira which is also a coastal plant that does equally well in Northern Israel. Pride of Madeira is called Echium Candicans, namely in the Echium family, and when I got home and researched this plant, voila, Echium Pininana, so they are cousins. What can I say, hoping to capture this amazing plant dotting the hillsides in a painting or illustration and maybe I'll find some to enjoy in Israel sometime! Enjoy this little introduction to Echium Pininana!
Above: The mist does give the whole picture an other-wordly vibe, right?
Echium pininana, commonly known as the tree echium, pine echium, giant viper's-bugloss, or tower of jewels, is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. It is endemic to the Canary Islands, where it is restricted to the island of La Palma. The specific epithet pininana is Latin for "small pine", though E. pininana is neither closely related to the pine, nor does it resemble that plant.
Okay, native to the Canary islands, meaning not a native to California, but rather introduced to California! It sure does seem to feel right at home, California is just like that, welcoming!
Such an interesting plant!
Wow.
Lifecycle
Echium pininana is biennial or triennial, meaning each plant lives for only two or three years respectively. It is a monocarpic species, each plant flowers only once before dying.
Very Interesting Morphology
In their first year, plants produce a rosette of lanceolate leaves approximately 7 cm (3 in) in length, with silver hairs. Plants also produce a trunk 0.9–2.4 m (3–8 ft) tall in their first year, which is covered with many lanceolate leaves.[14] In their second (or third) year, plants produce a cone-like inflorescence up to 4 m (13 ft) high with a dense mass of leaves and small blue flowers. Between April and June, the flower spike can grow 5 cm (2 in) per day. Flowers are funnel-shaped, and each produce up to 1.4 μL of nectar, which is approximately 26% sugar. Flowers at the bottom of the flower spike are first to open, with those at the top opening last. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths are attracted to the flowers. Following pollination, each flower produces four nutlets. Each plant can produce over 200,000 seeds, which are disbursed short distances by the wind.
Distribution and habitat
Echium pininana is endemic to the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, where it grows in laurel forests. It is endangered due to habitat loss caused by agriculture. Outside La Palma, Echium pininana has been introduced to France, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand (both North and South Island), and the United States (north and central coast of California). It is also in ex situ conservation; in fact, the ex situ conservation population is greater than the wild population. It is conserved in botanical gardens such as Kew Gardens in London, where it has naturalised.
Cultivation
Echium pininana is cultivated as a garden ornamental, It is used as a bedding plant or planted in borders, and grows best in full sun.[13] It is recommended for the southern maritime counties of The plant is most vulnerable to frosts in its first year. Because of its large leaves when partly grown, it is also very susceptible to wind damage. Hence a sheltered garden position is essential.
Such a truly interesting plant, and feel so very blessed to have become aware of it! And that friends is one of the things that I enjoy about visiting new places, getting to know new plants!
