The Progeny
Life in the Ditch
I've found some interesting backgrounds to several of the flowers featured today, and being the unselfish person that I am, will share them with any reader unfortunate enough not to be occupied elsewhere.
Parts of the following are actually true.
Earlier I showed a picture of a Monarch on what I thought was a purple clover, but--I know you won't be-lieve this--I was WRONG!
This flower is the Red Clover. (the Purple Clover looks nothing like a clover....)
It belongs to the Pea Family and the Latin name is "Trifolium pratense." Tri-, meaning "three"; -folium, meaning "leaves"; and pratense meaning either "pretender" or "really stressed out.
I'll have to do a little more checking....
Queen Anne's Lace is starting to bloom. It belongs to the Parsley Family and hails by the Latin name of Daucus carota. Yes, it is also called a "wild carrot!" I say, make up your mind, are you a carrot or parsley or what?
Confusing the issue is that this flower resembles something a little more dangerous, Water HEMLOCK. I give you a warning from Wikipedia.... concerning Hemlock: An oily, yellow liquid oozes from cuts to the stems and roots. This liquid has a rank smell resembling that of parsnips, carrots or mice. (emphasis mine)
Wow. You heard it here, folks. I did NOT make that part up.
A fascinating tidbit involves the dark red center, which some QAL have.
While the flower resembles lace; the red flower in the center represents a blood droplet where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace. (thanks again, Wikipedia)
Lastly we see Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta in Latin and what else....from the Vervain Family.
I think it's always helpful to check out all the names, as it gives us additional clues to the plant's personality.
For instance, the casual wildflower observer might wish to beware, as the moniker "Hoary" dredges up all kinds of shivery images of monster movies....things coming out of the black lagoon and such. And don't even get me STARTED on follicle issues.
And it could be as simple as pronunciation. For instance, this could have come through a German native trying to say the words, "We're vain!" in English, and ever since....well, you get the picture.
So, while facts concerning wildflowers are all well and good, I think we've found that a lot can be said for out-and-out speculation.
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Parts of the following are actually true.
Earlier I showed a picture of a Monarch on what I thought was a purple clover, but--I know you won't be-lieve this--I was WRONG!
This flower is the Red Clover. (the Purple Clover looks nothing like a clover....)
It belongs to the Pea Family and the Latin name is "Trifolium pratense." Tri-, meaning "three"; -folium, meaning "leaves"; and pratense meaning either "pretender" or "really stressed out. I'll have to do a little more checking....
Queen Anne's Lace is starting to bloom. It belongs to the Parsley Family and hails by the Latin name of Daucus carota. Yes, it is also called a "wild carrot!" I say, make up your mind, are you a carrot or parsley or what?
Confusing the issue is that this flower resembles something a little more dangerous, Water HEMLOCK. I give you a warning from Wikipedia.... concerning Hemlock: An oily, yellow liquid oozes from cuts to the stems and roots. This liquid has a rank smell resembling that of parsnips, carrots or mice. (emphasis mine)Wow. You heard it here, folks. I did NOT make that part up.
A fascinating tidbit involves the dark red center, which some QAL have.
While the flower resembles lace; the red flower in the center represents a blood droplet where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace. (thanks again, Wikipedia)Lastly we see Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta in Latin and what else....from the Vervain Family.
I think it's always helpful to check out all the names, as it gives us additional clues to the plant's personality.For instance, the casual wildflower observer might wish to beware, as the moniker "Hoary" dredges up all kinds of shivery images of monster movies....things coming out of the black lagoon and such. And don't even get me STARTED on follicle issues.
And it could be as simple as pronunciation. For instance, this could have come through a German native trying to say the words, "We're vain!" in English, and ever since....well, you get the picture.
So, while facts concerning wildflowers are all well and good, I think we've found that a lot can be said for out-and-out speculation.
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posted by Ma Hoyt | 4:03 PM
4 Comments:
Just in case you get up during the night and check for comments :)
I enjoy your pictures of wildflowers and other forms of wildlife but haven't been faithful to comment. Of course, I haven't blogged on my own blog since April so it's no great surprise that even comments are rare. I still skim through other people's blogs regularly, however. Please keep posting pictures and humorous commentary on the life of the Iowa Hoyts. Have a great day!
:-D
What? No new post(s) this late in the afternoon! I hope you are off doing something fun but if it's just getting the necessary work done, then I hope that you accomplish all that is most urgent, at least :)
It took me a while to get to it, since I was shopping and all.
Plus, Saturday nights are sorta reserved for watching Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, and for the older kids, the Red Green show :-)
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