As a sequel to a presentation on Genlisea almost a year ago, Fernando Rivadavia will lead us on an expedition to Africa, a contrast of both well-studied and little-known carnivorous plants.

"Two widely distinct carnivorous plant floras are found in southern Africa: one concentrated around Cape Town in southwestern South Africa, and another more widespread CP flora occurring over most of tropical sub-Saharan Africa. The Cape CP flora is mostly winter-growing, whereas the tropical African CP flora is mostly summer-growing, merely because of the pattern of the rainy season in each area -- the plants will grow when water is abundant.

"The most famous of the two floras is, of course, the Cape CP flora. This is due, in part, because it occurs over a smaller area and is fortunate enough to have been more intensely studied together with the fascinating Cape Flora as a whole, not to mention the uniqueness and beauty of some of the local CPs, such as the dazzlingly flowered Drosera cistiflora and D. pauciflora, the living fossil D. regia known from a single mountain top, and the endemic family Roridulaceae with its two species Roridula gorgonias and R. dentate, large bushy plants that defy our definition of a carnivorous plant through their symbiotic relationships with insects and spiders.

"The less famous of the two CP floras occurs across tropical Africa. This is still the least studied of all CP floras in the world, although it is one of the richest in number of species. This is because the plants occur over a large area which is extremely poor, is often inaccessible due to wars or mere lack of roads, and simply hasn't received much funding for basic research over the years. Numerous are the species of Drosera, Genlisea and Utricularia from this region, which is also home to Aldrovanda vesiculosa and the part-time CP Triphyophyllum peltatum.

"Although most CP species from tropical Africa appear to be relatively widespread, they are nonetheless extremely understudied and are still often known from only one or a few herbarium specimens, or have only recently been photographed in their native habitats. A huge potential for discovering new species exists in this area -- as well as for extinction, unfortunately, due to habitat destruction. In the Cape CP flora most species appear to be much more localized, occurring in narrow ranges. Although also threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction, many of these are apparently safe in nature preserves.

"I will try to briefly describe these two African CP floras through pictures of CPs and their habitats taken on two trips to South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe."

Please bring plants for the show and tell table. Donations are gratefully appreciated for the raffle and auction, which are our major fundraisers. Members are also welcome to bring plants to sell or auction. A portion of the proceeds (10%) will be collected for our fundraising efforts.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a snack or drink to share. As a token of our appreciation, donors will receive a free raffle ticket.

For directions to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, visit their website at http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org. For parking, refer to the map posted here for directions parking areas close to the Conservatory where free street parking is usually available. Enter through the side gate on the east side of the Conservatory (on the right as you face the entrance). The meeting room is directly in front of the gate.

The Conservatory has graciously offered their meeting room for our use. The admission fee will be waived for BACPS attendees. Feel free to arrive early and enjoy the Conservatory's extensive tropical plant displays and special model train exhibit "Playland at the Conservatory: A Garden Railway Celebrating San Francisco's West End".