 |
| 1 Panzerina lanata |
In 2009, I was very fortunate to be able to visit Westernmost Mongolia on a trip with Mike Bone--Curator of Steppe Collections at Denver Botanic Gardens. As we drove back from the Eagle mountains towards Bayan Olgii, we noticed this magnificent little mint along the road. I managed to take ten pictures of it--every one of which I rather like: perhaps you can let me know which is your favorite? They're conveniently numbered!
 |
| 2 |
I should clarify that I'm not entirely sure if this is
Panzerina lanata or
P. canescens: they seem very close. And both occur widely in the vicinity of the Altai where these were photographed.
 |
| 3 |
 |
| 4 |
 |
| 5 |
 |
| 6 |
 |
| 7 |
 |
| 8 |
 |
| 9 |
 |
| 10 |
Growing here and there with these (if not so abundantly) was
Goniolimon congestum, at least I believe that's what this is. Or perhaps just a microform of
Goniolimon speciosum? I managed several pictures of this as well...
 |
| 11 |
 |
| 12 |
 |
| 14 |
 |
| 15 |
On strange new plants like these, it is always instructive to see them in different lights and from different angles.
Now if we can only add these to our steppe gardens!
#4 of the first plant and #12 of the second plant.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa: Blogger says there have been 290 people who have visited this post in the last day--and you're the first to "play along!"...someone listens to me!
DeleteI love the way 4 & 5 capture the fringe-y eyes of the blooms (or bracts?), but my favorite is 8 because of the way it conveys both the landscape and the plant.
ReplyDeleteAs a creature of the eastern woodland mountains, I find steppes awe-inspiring -- but they also quickly begin to induce a kind of agoraphobia. Where's the nearest hut?
Your meditation on meatball shrubs cracked me up! Deer have had their way with several American holly seedlings here, producing the same effect as 'Maryland Dwarf' without the expense or difficulty of finding a source...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDanged auto-"correct"... Above, 'fringe-y eyes' should be 'fringe-y edges'.
ReplyDeleteYou needn't worry about the occasional typo--there are plenty in my text and I can correct mine! Thank you for your kind comments (and votes!). Steppes are habit forming. Those of us born and bred on the steppes (steppe-children?) find the eastern woodlands to be claustrophobic! It's all what you're used to...love your account of the holly (a challenging plant for us to grow well).
ReplyDeleteCatching up on your Mongolia posts (in reverse order starting with Part 4), these two "hot numbers" are perfectly so! What a pure delight Panzerina lanata (perhaps canescens) is, I even love the genus name, with those wooly white tubes and orange lip and guidelines; anyone growing this? Also photos are very good, but I like #2 & #9 best, the square on low angle views, where detail and overall aspect of the plant are visible. And WOW, Goniolimon congestum!!
ReplyDelete