How is it that such a beautiful flower flourishes when the stock is dried and shriveled?
[Edited on 6-29-2010 by Russ]
DianaT - 6-29-2010 at 02:42 PM
Nice one Russ and I understand your question.
One of the best things I find about this hobby is that I have become more aware of things like that---we stop a lot more and take the time to really
take in our surroundings.Mexitron - 6-29-2010 at 02:45 PM
Russ---there's no more water for growing so its putting all its remaining energy into flowers and seeds before it goes away for the year...DianaT - 6-29-2010 at 03:28 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
Russ---there's no more water for growing so its putting all its remaining energy into flowers and seeds before it goes away for the year...
Not being a scientist, I think I prefer to ponder things like this flower with the dying vines and connect them to a larger life picture.
But I knew there had to be a scientific reason for this and that you or Debra would enlighten us.
Again, Russ thanks for sharing the picture and your question.
Flower
tehag - 6-29-2010 at 03:52 PM
That looks like desert mallow. Sphaeralcea ambigua. It's common name comes from the Spanish "Mal de Ojo." It's stems and leaves are covered with fine
hairs which can cause an extreme allergic reaction. Handle with care.ecomujeres - 7-20-2010 at 12:55 AM
ID is correct, tehag.
But about allergenicity I must comment more. I am usually allergic to lots of things, but have interestingly never come across a plant (yet) in Baja
that has bothered me, even though the description has said (unbeknownst to me at the time of encounter) that it can cause extreme dermatitis or
allergic reaction of some kind.
This beauty does have dense, star-like hairs that, when rubbed off (not easy to do) then rubbed into ones eye could cause irritation.
Now, I know that just because I'm not allergic doesn't mean that others might not be. Tehag, have you had a personal bad experience with Desert
Mallow? I'd be interesting to know what other's have to say about their experiences.
I was just with a botanist friend who spent about 4 hours rubbing her bare hands through masses of a closely related species in order to strip and
break up the fruit from the leafy stems so she could collect the seeds for a restoration project. She experienced no irritation whatsoever, even
though by the end, her clothes were covered with the hairs as was the rest of her. However, another person working with her had to stop the task
after about an hour, because she was becoming slightly irritated and was somewhat concerned because she is allergic to many things, including numerous
plants.
Additionally, none of the many people on my plant walks or photographer friends have suffered from their heavy petting of the plant either. I think
that like many things in nature, this plant has gotten a bad rap, especially in Mexico, as shown by its common name.
The upshot: it may cause irritation in rare cases, no doubt. However, people shouldn't fear the plant or let the remote possibility stop them from
enjoying it or even touching it in order to get a good photo.
To be extra careful, just wash your hands afterwards. And don't stick the plant where it doesn't belong -- your eye, mouth or nose!
Mallow
tehag - 7-20-2010 at 05:41 AM
I uprooted a stand of these that had finished blooming and helped load them into a pickup for a rancher who feeds the stalks to his cattle. Of the
three of us involved, I had the worst reaction; swollen, runny, red eyes, slight rash on inner arms, maddening itch. The rancher's son had some red
eye. The rancher, who used a pitchfork, suffered no symptoms. The cows were delighted and gobbled it up without problems. I have since handled the
plant, washed thoroughly right afterward, and had no issues.ecomujeres - 7-20-2010 at 10:15 AM
Tehag -- thanks. Very interesting story.Iflyfish - 7-20-2010 at 10:39 AM
‘Flower in the crannied wall’
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)
FLOWER in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies;—
Hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower—but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all, 5
I should know what God and man is.
Basho (1644-94), Japanese poet of the seventeenth century
When I look carefully
I see the nazuna blooming
by the hedge!
