ISABEL cayon FERNANDEZ
One successful MPG Bursary applicant is Isabel Cayon Fernandez who, having graduated from The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 'Horticulture with Plantsmanship', was looking to fund a voluntary work experience at Jardín Botánico Canario "Viera y Clavijo” in Gran Canaria. This garden focuses on plant conservation of the Macaronesian Region, which in reality are the 'ancestors' of the Mediterranean plants we know today. Isabel arrived at Jardín Botánico Canario "Viera y Clavijo” at the start of October 2018.
FEBRUARY 2019
A REPORT FROM ISABEL
Thanks to support from the MPG Bursary Scheme and other British trusts, I raised enough funding to complete a voluntary work placement at the Jardín Botánico Canario 'Viera y Clavijo' in Gran Canaria.
For the practical side of my placement, I am working with the horticultural team in the living collections of the garden, doing general maintenance and some propagation in the nursery. On the scientific side, I have been collaborating with the Seed Bank, carrying out germination tests, helping with in situ conservation work and also with studies on reproductive biology, for example performing cross-pollinations. This work is mostly focussed on the endangered species of the region.
I am really enjoying my work here and learning a great deal from this practical experience. I hope that I will be able to share this knowledge with MPG members or others with similar interests in future. You will find some posts on the MPG facebook page.
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to MPG members, and I would also recommend a visit to this garden for anyone interested in the remarkable flora of this region
Thanks to support from the MPG Bursary Scheme and other British trusts, I raised enough funding to complete a voluntary work placement at the Jardín Botánico Canario 'Viera y Clavijo' in Gran Canaria.
For the practical side of my placement, I am working with the horticultural team in the living collections of the garden, doing general maintenance and some propagation in the nursery. On the scientific side, I have been collaborating with the Seed Bank, carrying out germination tests, helping with in situ conservation work and also with studies on reproductive biology, for example performing cross-pollinations. This work is mostly focussed on the endangered species of the region.
I am really enjoying my work here and learning a great deal from this practical experience. I hope that I will be able to share this knowledge with MPG members or others with similar interests in future. You will find some posts on the MPG facebook page.
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to MPG members, and I would also recommend a visit to this garden for anyone interested in the remarkable flora of this region
JANUARY 2019
Isoplexis chalcantha (Scrophulariaceae)
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This month Isabel has sent photographs of two herbaceous species belonging to the Laurisilva (Laurel) forest. The very lovely Isoplexus chalcantha is on the IUCS Red List and classed a Critically Endangered. |
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This one, Canarina canariensis is a glabrous scrambling vine. Both plants are pollinated by flower-visiting birds, especially the Canary Islands chiffchaff and the Spectacled Warbler. |
Canarina canariensis (Campanulaceae)
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Lavatera phoenicea (above left) & Lavatera acerifolia var. acerifolia (right)
Lavatera phoenicea has salmon flowers and it is endemic to the island of Tenerife while Lavatera acerifolia var. acerifolia has mauve flowers and it is endemic to Tenerife, La Palma, Gran Canaria, La Gomera. These shrubs belonging to the Malvaceae family are breaking dormancy this time of the year, when temperatures have dropped after a long hot summer. They first flower around October and keep flowering until Spring, providing with a long flowering season making them good ornamental plants.
Lavatera phoenicea has salmon flowers and it is endemic to the island of Tenerife while Lavatera acerifolia var. acerifolia has mauve flowers and it is endemic to Tenerife, La Palma, Gran Canaria, La Gomera. These shrubs belonging to the Malvaceae family are breaking dormancy this time of the year, when temperatures have dropped after a long hot summer. They first flower around October and keep flowering until Spring, providing with a long flowering season making them good ornamental plants.
Pancratium canariense (endemic to the Canary Islands).
Life is sprouting at the thermophilous forest border of the garden! These bulbs from the Amaryllidaceae family are starting to come up following the first autumn rains. This part of the garden will be soon covered by an eye-catchy and fragrant white mantle. P. canariense makes a beautiful and naturalistic display by growing close to the greenery of a broad range of Macaronesian trees & shrubs.
Life is sprouting at the thermophilous forest border of the garden! These bulbs from the Amaryllidaceae family are starting to come up following the first autumn rains. This part of the garden will be soon covered by an eye-catchy and fragrant white mantle. P. canariense makes a beautiful and naturalistic display by growing close to the greenery of a broad range of Macaronesian trees & shrubs.