Eritrea

Mosquito-repellent basil

July 30, 2010

One of the plants collected by Antonio de Benedictis, director of the Department of Agriculture in Asmara, was the holotype of Ocimum forskolei, possibly the closest relative of sweet basil, O. basilicum. The holotype is the actual physical specimen on which the formal description of a new species is based, and that’s a picture of [...]

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Asmera

July 29, 2010

March 1927 Asmera is a civilized city with large public gardens, colourful flower beds, paved roads and satisfactory hotels. I went to the governor of Asmera to surrender the arms, no longer needed. The governor invited me to supper in the evening, so that I could meet all the local dignitaries. Among the guests there [...]

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The realm of the baobab

July 21, 2010

March 1927 In contrast to Abyssinia, there is a great variation of climates, soils and other natural conditions in Eritrea. Toward the north, in the vicinity of Sudan, the climate becomes drier. In Cheren there are about 600 mm, of rain instead of the 1500 mm, common in Abyssinia. This is the realm of the [...]

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In Eritrea

July 19, 2010

March 1927 After parting with the hospitable Italian consul and reorganizing the caravan, I proceeded toward the border and took a short road in the direction of the capital, Asmera, which is situated in a mountainous area. In essence, the mountainous Eritrea is a continuation of Abyssinia. Asmera is situated at an altitude of 2380 [...]

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