One of my all time favorite phrases to use when interpreting the flora of Galapagos is: "Scalesia is to botanists, what Darwin's finches are to ornithologists." It seems the clearest means of explaining the significance of these wonderful plants in these islands. The backlit Scalesia, in the foreground of the photo, is from the island of Floreana (also known as Santa Maria - the official name of the island - and Charles, in English) and a member of the sunflower and daisy family. Scalesia villosa is beautifully adapted to the arid conditions of the lowlands of this island. "Villosa" refers to the fine hairs found covering the leaves, and both this feature and the fact the plants retain their old leaves around the base of the new, is vital to their ability to collect the condensing moisture overnight. On many occasions this is the only moisture the plant will have access to over the year. Yes, we supposedly have a rainy season every year between January and May, however on occasions the rains do not arrive at all (drought), or fall intermittently with little regularity, like this year. In these situations, Scalesia does wonderfully, never missing a step in its cycle. After all, they've been doing this for millennia.
Behind the Scalesia you can see another green-leafed plant. The leaves are brighter, young and small. Just now, in March, the Palo Santo trees of Pt. Cormorant, where we visited this afternoon, are starting to show their leaves. This tree of genus Bursura, is related to frankincense, and is known also as the incense tree. It can remain dormant for years if necessary, but reacts with virulence and action when given enough water to start the sap rising. Obviously within the last few days some rain has fallen. The leaves are just beginning to pop out, along with flowers all at once. No time to waste here. These trees are specialized in producing leaves, flowers and seeds as soon as possible for dispersal, because they also know not how long the rains will last. Better to get everything out at once, in preparation for the next generation. It's adapt fast and well here, or fade out and become extinct.
