Trevor Padgett
@trevorpadgett.bsky.social
Plant ecologist & PhD candidate | Academia Sinica/Tunghai University
Founder & Lead Educator | 'Taiwan Nature Education' bilingual ecology education
Co-host/Biologist | 'Botanical wonders'
https://tinyurl.com/242w9hee
Hengchun Peninsula, Taiwan.
Founder & Lead Educator | 'Taiwan Nature Education' bilingual ecology education
Co-host/Biologist | 'Botanical wonders'
https://tinyurl.com/242w9hee
Hengchun Peninsula, Taiwan.
Cauliflory (nothing to do with the vegetable)
Often flowers (which become fruit) grow from positions on branches, often as individual flowers of various forms of flower clusters.
In some trees, the flowers grow directly on the trunk, like Baccaurea sp. (left) and many figs (Ficus; right)
Often flowers (which become fruit) grow from positions on branches, often as individual flowers of various forms of flower clusters.
In some trees, the flowers grow directly on the trunk, like Baccaurea sp. (left) and many figs (Ficus; right)
September 1, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Cauliflory (nothing to do with the vegetable)
Often flowers (which become fruit) grow from positions on branches, often as individual flowers of various forms of flower clusters.
In some trees, the flowers grow directly on the trunk, like Baccaurea sp. (left) and many figs (Ficus; right)
Often flowers (which become fruit) grow from positions on branches, often as individual flowers of various forms of flower clusters.
In some trees, the flowers grow directly on the trunk, like Baccaurea sp. (left) and many figs (Ficus; right)
For those eager fo scale:
September 1, 2025 at 2:25 AM
For those eager fo scale:
Forest treasures:
If you slow (and look!) down, there are captivating stories unfolding all over the forest floor.
Names of these mycological treasures: Marasmiaceae, Amanita, Cryptotrama, Unknown [infecting fruit of Barringtonia sp., probably racemosa]
#vietnam
#mycology #fungi
If you slow (and look!) down, there are captivating stories unfolding all over the forest floor.
Names of these mycological treasures: Marasmiaceae, Amanita, Cryptotrama, Unknown [infecting fruit of Barringtonia sp., probably racemosa]
#vietnam
#mycology #fungi
September 1, 2025 at 2:25 AM
'Fungi farming' (Macrotermitinae) termites collect woody material and bring it back to the nest (to a specific area called a "comb"), where the wood is infected with a certain unique fungi that breaks down both cellulose and lignin.
Afterwards: termites feast!
#Vietnam #nature #invertebrate
Afterwards: termites feast!
#Vietnam #nature #invertebrate
August 28, 2025 at 12:57 AM
'Fungi farming' (Macrotermitinae) termites collect woody material and bring it back to the nest (to a specific area called a "comb"), where the wood is infected with a certain unique fungi that breaks down both cellulose and lignin.
Afterwards: termites feast!
#Vietnam #nature #invertebrate
Afterwards: termites feast!
#Vietnam #nature #invertebrate
How to eat a tree
(and other woody matter):
Digesting lignin/cellulose in woody material is tough. To make them consumable, termites evolved 2 main strategies.
Internal digestion (most termites): gut bacteria digests
External digestion (Macrotermitinae): cultivate fungi to digest it for you!
(and other woody matter):
Digesting lignin/cellulose in woody material is tough. To make them consumable, termites evolved 2 main strategies.
Internal digestion (most termites): gut bacteria digests
External digestion (Macrotermitinae): cultivate fungi to digest it for you!
August 28, 2025 at 12:57 AM
How to eat a tree
(and other woody matter):
Digesting lignin/cellulose in woody material is tough. To make them consumable, termites evolved 2 main strategies.
Internal digestion (most termites): gut bacteria digests
External digestion (Macrotermitinae): cultivate fungi to digest it for you!
(and other woody matter):
Digesting lignin/cellulose in woody material is tough. To make them consumable, termites evolved 2 main strategies.
Internal digestion (most termites): gut bacteria digests
External digestion (Macrotermitinae): cultivate fungi to digest it for you!
Pill millipede in action...
August 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Pill millipede in action...
More millipede madness from Vietnam's ethereal tropical forests:
Prionobelum (97.6% sure)
Also known as pill millipedes, these are able to roll into a ball ("volvation") as a defense mechanism, which the flat backed millipedes (e.g., below) cannot do.
Equally cute, equally important!
Prionobelum (97.6% sure)
Also known as pill millipedes, these are able to roll into a ball ("volvation") as a defense mechanism, which the flat backed millipedes (e.g., below) cannot do.
Equally cute, equally important!
August 27, 2025 at 12:44 PM
More millipede madness from Vietnam's ethereal tropical forests:
Prionobelum (97.6% sure)
Also known as pill millipedes, these are able to roll into a ball ("volvation") as a defense mechanism, which the flat backed millipedes (e.g., below) cannot do.
Equally cute, equally important!
Prionobelum (97.6% sure)
Also known as pill millipedes, these are able to roll into a ball ("volvation") as a defense mechanism, which the flat backed millipedes (e.g., below) cannot do.
Equally cute, equally important!
Polydesmida millipedes (flat backed) can often be colourful, large & calm.
Found in the leaf litter in low to high elevation tropical to temperate forests (usually humid areas), these decomposers are not just beautiful but important contributors to nutrient cycling.
Left: #Taiwan
Right: #Vietnam
Found in the leaf litter in low to high elevation tropical to temperate forests (usually humid areas), these decomposers are not just beautiful but important contributors to nutrient cycling.
Left: #Taiwan
Right: #Vietnam
August 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Semi-snails (Megaustenia app.) of Vietnam: an evolutionary link between slugs (no shell) & snails (full shell).
Their shells are thin & incomplete, & need to be covered by their skin ('mantle') which offers protection, camouflage, & secretes calcium carbonate to build more shell.
#Vietnam #snail
Their shells are thin & incomplete, & need to be covered by their skin ('mantle') which offers protection, camouflage, & secretes calcium carbonate to build more shell.
#Vietnam #snail
August 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Join a conversation about our global ocean, it's ecosystems, and the science behind how we know what's going on and what we can - hopefully - do to fix it.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
May 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Join a conversation about our global ocean, it's ecosystems, and the science behind how we know what's going on and what we can - hopefully - do to fix it.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
The real quest was to find new populations of an exquisitely curious and beautiful parasitic plant (Balanophora fungosa ssp fungosa). Twelve hours crawling up and down the volcanic mountains was rewarded with many individuals spotted in a new area on a ridge line!
February 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM
The real quest was to find new populations of an exquisitely curious and beautiful parasitic plant (Balanophora fungosa ssp fungosa). Twelve hours crawling up and down the volcanic mountains was rewarded with many individuals spotted in a new area on a ridge line!
Finally spotted the elusive Lanyu / Orchid Island mountain water buffalo. Or is it a kissing sika deer? DNA analyses will reveal the truth....
February 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Finally spotted the elusive Lanyu / Orchid Island mountain water buffalo. Or is it a kissing sika deer? DNA analyses will reveal the truth....
Parasitic plants are a unique (parasitic!!) and diverse (>4,500 species!!) group of plants that are ecologically important...but understudied.
Our three year study found that a rare parasitic plant in #Taiwan is an annual, not perennial.
#Balanophora
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Our three year study found that a rare parasitic plant in #Taiwan is an annual, not perennial.
#Balanophora
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Parasitic plants are a unique (parasitic!!) and diverse (>4,500 species!!) group of plants that are ecologically important...but understudied.
Our three year study found that a rare parasitic plant in #Taiwan is an annual, not perennial.
#Balanophora
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Our three year study found that a rare parasitic plant in #Taiwan is an annual, not perennial.
#Balanophora
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Why are these the most nagging types of plants?
Because they are always beggin' ya to look at them.
Begonia....beggin' ya.....
...I'll show myself out now.
#(Bad)BotanicalHumour
Because they are always beggin' ya to look at them.
Begonia....beggin' ya.....
...I'll show myself out now.
#(Bad)BotanicalHumour
May 11, 2024 at 12:10 PM
Why are these the most nagging types of plants?
Because they are always beggin' ya to look at them.
Begonia....beggin' ya.....
...I'll show myself out now.
#(Bad)BotanicalHumour
Because they are always beggin' ya to look at them.
Begonia....beggin' ya.....
...I'll show myself out now.
#(Bad)BotanicalHumour
I come to Orchid Island (蘭嶼) in Taiwan to study rarities of the plant world - and there are many - but was recently graced with an equally rare (in Taiwan) celestial beauty - clear skies!
The tropics are notoriously difficult for starry skies, but when they arrive....Celestial splendor!
#taiwan
The tropics are notoriously difficult for starry skies, but when they arrive....Celestial splendor!
#taiwan
May 11, 2024 at 12:07 PM
I come to Orchid Island (蘭嶼) in Taiwan to study rarities of the plant world - and there are many - but was recently graced with an equally rare (in Taiwan) celestial beauty - clear skies!
The tropics are notoriously difficult for starry skies, but when they arrive....Celestial splendor!
#taiwan
The tropics are notoriously difficult for starry skies, but when they arrive....Celestial splendor!
#taiwan
Everything underground!
Orchid Island is undergoing a journey of burying the wires currently held aloft by the typhoon damaged cement poles. The results are - temporary - traffic congestion (island style) but the final result will be increased resilience against the next big one.
Orchid Island is undergoing a journey of burying the wires currently held aloft by the typhoon damaged cement poles. The results are - temporary - traffic congestion (island style) but the final result will be increased resilience against the next big one.
May 11, 2024 at 12:02 PM
Everything underground!
Orchid Island is undergoing a journey of burying the wires currently held aloft by the typhoon damaged cement poles. The results are - temporary - traffic congestion (island style) but the final result will be increased resilience against the next big one.
Orchid Island is undergoing a journey of burying the wires currently held aloft by the typhoon damaged cement poles. The results are - temporary - traffic congestion (island style) but the final result will be increased resilience against the next big one.
Papilio demoleus
Hengchun, Taiwan
A swallowtail, without the tail!
Hengchun, Taiwan
A swallowtail, without the tail!
March 17, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Papilio demoleus
Hengchun, Taiwan
A swallowtail, without the tail!
Hengchun, Taiwan
A swallowtail, without the tail!
We had an unexpected - but greatly appreciated - visit by "Oryctes rhinoceros". A neighbour found it crossing the road in our village, and rescued / delivered to us.
After a brief beetle ecology lesson at home, we transported it to a safe (wild) new home nearby!
#beetle #Taiwan
After a brief beetle ecology lesson at home, we transported it to a safe (wild) new home nearby!
#beetle #Taiwan
March 9, 2024 at 2:02 AM
Begonia fenicis | Lanyu (蘭嶼), #Taiwan
One of the most northerly of the ca. 1900 described Begonia species, this plant is found in the Philippines, Taiwan & some southerly Japanese islands. Flowering in winter, it can be seen along stream banks and wet slopes throughout Lanyu.
One of the most northerly of the ca. 1900 described Begonia species, this plant is found in the Philippines, Taiwan & some southerly Japanese islands. Flowering in winter, it can be seen along stream banks and wet slopes throughout Lanyu.
February 27, 2024 at 12:53 AM
Begonia fenicis | Lanyu (蘭嶼), #Taiwan
One of the most northerly of the ca. 1900 described Begonia species, this plant is found in the Philippines, Taiwan & some southerly Japanese islands. Flowering in winter, it can be seen along stream banks and wet slopes throughout Lanyu.
One of the most northerly of the ca. 1900 described Begonia species, this plant is found in the Philippines, Taiwan & some southerly Japanese islands. Flowering in winter, it can be seen along stream banks and wet slopes throughout Lanyu.
Helicostyla okadai (Lanyu, Feb 2024).
The unique blue colouration in this species makes it really stand out amongst the vibrant green foliage, but certainly has a protective (messaging) role in protecting against predators?
The unique blue colouration in this species makes it really stand out amongst the vibrant green foliage, but certainly has a protective (messaging) role in protecting against predators?
February 26, 2024 at 12:23 AM
Helicostyla okadai (Lanyu, Feb 2024).
The unique blue colouration in this species makes it really stand out amongst the vibrant green foliage, but certainly has a protective (messaging) role in protecting against predators?
The unique blue colouration in this species makes it really stand out amongst the vibrant green foliage, but certainly has a protective (messaging) role in protecting against predators?