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‘A seed neither fears light nor darkness, but uses both to grow.’ ~ Matshona Dhliwayo
One of many
30 Sunday Oct 2022
Posted in autumn, wildflowers
Tag Archives: plant seeds
Seedheads: Rough sow-thistle
18 Sunday Sep 2022
Posted in autumn, wildflowers
At this time of year, when there are few wildflowers in bloom, the presence of Rough sow-thistle, with its glowing yellow flowers and fluffy white seedheads, is a lifesaver for thirsty bees and butterflies, and a boon for finches wanting to nibble at its seeds. And, for me, it provides yet another example of the sculptural beauty of the seedheads of plants.
Taking time to stand and stare
27 Saturday Aug 2022
Posted in nature
‘What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?’
From the poem ‘Leisure’ by Welsh poet W. H. Davies, Songs of Joy and Others, A. C. Fifield, 1911.
Wild word: pod
27 Wednesday Oct 2021
Posted in plants, wildflowers
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Pod: [Oxford Dictionary] An elongated seed vessel of a leguminous plant such as the pea, splitting open on both sides when ripe.
And, below, some examples, to show the huge variety in size and shape, colour and form.
Tomorrow’s flowers
19 Sunday Sep 2021
Posted in autumn, wildflowers
All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday. ~ Italian proverb
323/366 Seedheads, 5
18 Wednesday Nov 2020
Posted in autumn, plants, wildflowers
If all seeds that fall were to grow, then no one could follow
the path under the trees. ~ Nigerian proverb
51/366 Mystery seedpod
20 Thursday Feb 2020
This seedpod is a mystery to me.
I found it alongside the path through Grangemoor Park in Cardiff, just two dried up stems about 12 inches tall, with seedpods – four in total – at the tips of each branched stem. No leaves remained and I saw no other similar plants anywhere along the path.
The structure of the seedpod is glorious, so sculptural. I brought two pods home with me, and one has now split into quarters, with small brown seeds spilling out of it.
But what is this plant? I’ve tried looking online but found nothing that matches. Of course, the solution would be to plant the seeds but I do not have a garden. I could try planting a couple of seeds in a pot but I’d rather return the seeds to the wild where I found them. So, if there are any botanists or plant people out there who recognise this seedpod, please do let me know in the comments below. Thanks!
p.s. Thanks to Barbara Brown, of BSBI Wales, I now know this is a species of Datura, possibly Datura stramonium, the Thorn-apple. In this case, the seedpod has lost all its flesh making it look a little different from the images I’ve found online.
300/365 Next year’s wildflowers
27 Sunday Oct 2019
Posted in autumn, nature, plants, wildflowers
‘For me, wildflowers are joy-giving. They have enriched my life and fed my soul and given beautiful memories to sustain me.’ ~ Lady Bird Johnson letter in National Wildflower Research Center report ‘The First Ten Years: 1983-1993’
29/365 Old men’s damp beards
29 Tuesday Jan 2019
Posted in 365DaysWildin2019, nature, wildflowers, winter
Tags
#365DaysWild, clematis vitalba, feathery seeds, Old Man's Beard, plant seeds, seeds, Traveller's joy
This is Clematis vitalba, commonly known as Traveller’s joy though, at this time of year, when its feathery seeds festoon hedgerows, clamber over fences, and bedeck stone walls, I think its other common name of Old man’s beard is more apt. Today, the Old men’s beards were looking a little damp and they’ll now be completely sodden – I managed a walk early this morning before the heavy rain came in.
Variations on a theme
15 Thursday Nov 2018
Posted in autumn, nature, wildflowers
Tags
dandelion, dandelion seedhead, plant seeds, round seedheads, seed dispersal methods, seed dissemination, seeds
With its seeds attached to tiny botanical parachutes that can be distributed far and wide by the wind, the Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.) has evolved an extremely efficient method of disseminating its seed. It’s not surprising, then, that many other species use a very similar method to disperse their seeds.
I don’t think I’m getting my wish this time around!
earthstar 
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