Another day in paradise! What can I say, words are not enough to describe the fascination the Galapagos Islands inspire me with. In the morning, after visiting Post Office Bay, we had an unforgettable snorkeling outing at Champion Islet, thousands of colorful tropical fish, sharks, rays, sea turtles and playful sea lions were there to fill our minds with long-lasting memories. In the afternoon we visited Point Cormorant, weather and light conditions were simply spectacular, and we spotted flamingos and finches, among other birds. This place is very rich in plant species as well. Today I want to describe one of them, the beautiful "wing-fruited Lecocarpus" (Lecocarpus pinnatifidus).
Seven Galapagos flowering plant groups (Angiosperms) have been isolated long enough to constitute endemic genera restricted to the archipelago. One of these genera, Lecocarpus, has a very interesting distribution on the islands. Three different species are found on three different islands! The "curve-spined" one (Lecocarpus darwinii) is found only on San Cristóbal, the "straight-spined" Lecocarpus (Lecocarpus lecocarpoides) is found only on Española Island. The third species, the "wing-fruited" Lecocarpus (Lecocarpus pinnatifidus) shown in the picture of today, inhabits only the arid lowlands of Floreana Island. This beautiful endemic plant, considered vulnerable, is easily identified by its peculiar leaves and fruits. The specific epithet, or species name, of this plant, pinnatifidus, refers to the numerous divisions of each leaf blade. Its common name, "wing-fruited", makes reference to its characteristic green fruits. This attractive plant is one of the most obvious components of the vegetation at Punta Cormorant on Floreana. Lecocarpus fills the picturesque volcanic coloration of the dry zone with its beautiful yellow flowers. Enjoy them!
