Jebel Kawkaban

[Carlo]

Could it be Cichorum spinosum? The range is usually given as the eastern Mediterranean but...

[Maggi Young]

I don't think so, Carlo, look at the foliage... it's  a lovely lttle tight cushion.... 

[Gerdk]

Could it be Cichorum spinosum? The range is usually given as the eastern Mediterranean but...

Why not Cichorium bottae as Lesley replied? This species was mentioned for Northern Yemen (AGS Bulletin Vol. 55 No. 4 , page 290 picture, 291)

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

I've just looked up that reference, Gerd, and that  seems indeed to be the plant....Chicorium bottae... somehow I had overlooked Lesley's previous post about C. bottiae (sic).... just a lovely blue, isn't it? The old AGS bulletin  photo from twenty years ago is a faded version of this jewel like blue!

[Carlo]

I'll go with that (spinosum was just a wild guess...didn't check the net before posting)...just seemed a sure cichorum after seeing the flowers closer...

anyone have SEED!

[FrazerHenderson]

Carlo

Since I'll be back in Yemen in January until end of March and then again in the summer I'll try and obtain some seed for the seed exchange.

Frazer

[Carlo]

Excellent Frazer...

I've long had a soft spot for chicory of any sort, but a bun....whooo-eee.

(I once photographed chicory flowers stuck into a shagbark hickory----a chicory hickory, doc--with no mouse running up the clock).

There's a pink version of our common blue weed species running around out there as well.

[fermi de Sousa]

Frazer,
that chicory is an absolute darling but sadly it won't be on our Quarantine Services's "Allowed list"!
I share Carlo's "soft spot" for these lovely blue wayside flowers; if we could get a rock garden version it would be a great bonus.
I look forward to reports back after your January-March trip.
cheers
fermi

[FrazerHenderson]

More shots taken during February and March 2008.

This time of an unidentified buddleia - any helpwith identification welcome

[FrazerHenderson]

And some more...

Pictures 1-3 of an unidentified bun cactus found at the top of the plateau (3000m) windswept and quite bleak.

Pictures 4-5 of general scenery

[Maggi Young]

Hang on, Frazer.... it's not the end of March yet..... and I was speaking to you in Dunblane...I had quite forgotten that you were "meant" to be elsewhere ...... why are you home "early"? Not, I hasten to add, that we're sorry to have you here!!  

[FrazerHenderson]

Maggi

I didn't go to Dunblane - I'm just back from Yemen and here for just a couple of days and then it's off to Dubai and the Indian ocean for a few months. Must have been some other chap! We male gardeners all look the same - thin and bearded!!

Frazer

[FrazerHenderson]

some more pictures:


Pictures 1-3 of Primula verticillata which I found at two distinct locations. These pictures are from what I've termed location 1 - a large overhang.

More will follow hopefully

[FrazerHenderson]

Pictures 1-3 Chicorum bottae
Picture 4 rock flushing with Primula verticillata

[FrazerHenderson]

and some more (though you may be quite bored)

Picture 1: Fern
Picture 2: Looking down the wadi
Picture 3: Unknown thistle

Picture 4: Thistle unfurled
Picture 5: Primula verticillata taken at location 2 near Kawkaban (see Primula thread for comparison of vertillata specimens in Yemen