07/13/2013
We are on the final leg of our journey for this season. After an eight hour train trip from Yerevan, Armenia, we arrived in Tbilisi early in the morning and checked into our hotel near the old city. The next morning we met with our hosts and collaborators at the Botanical Institute. We spent the rest of a pleasant day in hot Tbilisi before heading into the field the following day in the environs of Tbilisi, including a stop at the old capitol of Mtskheta. On day 3 in Georgia, we headed out of Tbilisi for an overnight trip to Bakuriani - a mountain ski village. Along the way we stopped in Gori - home town of Stalin. The Stalin museum was fascinating! Collection localities obtained from our work in the herbarium at the Botanical Institute indicated Camelina sativa was collected from around the high alpine Lake Tabatskuri. While the view was beautiful, we were unable to find Camelina. The following day of collections was much more productive as we travelled the river valleys of the mountain region. On our last day in the field, we headed in the direction of David Gareja - a series of old monasteries near the border with Azerbaijan. The monasteries and chapels were carved out of the rock, sometimes using fire to cause the rock to expand and contract. The area is a semi-desert and Camelinawas making its home in the dry, dusty environment. In short, Georgia is a beautiful country with bountiful Camelina and wonderful people. Many thanks to Dr. Shalva (Nukri) Sikharulidze, Dr. George Nakhutsrishvili, Manana Khutsishvili (Herbarium Director), and of course our field guide and friend George Tedoradze. Good driving George!
The Botanical Institute in Tbilisi. New herbarium and administrative building is at the entrance to the Tbilisi Botanical Garden. Many thanks to Dr. Shalva (Nukri) Sikharulidze.
Authors
Dr. Mark Beilstein (University of Arizona)
Jordan Brock
Evan Forsythe
Jordan Brock
Evan Forsythe
