We close 2022 with fraud. This WTF is a Wild Thing Faking. Not a flower, at least not one you might expect, this is a sedge in the genus Rhynchospora (the “beaksedges"). And while sedges certainly have flowers, those aren’t petals.
Spectacular! Such crisp color and detail. And I love learning the scientific terms - anemophily, entomophily, ambophily. Sounds like the makings of a poem to me. Will let you know if they ever become one.
Exquisite!—the butterfly with its fringed edges, striped antennae, and teal-glitter-edged eye spots; the elegantly stylish beaksedge; and the biologist (Oh, that eloquent biologist!) on his belly. What a winning combo for all of us nature-lovers. Thank you, Bryan.
Thanks for pursuing your curiosity and finding an answer to the question of why a plant pollinated by wind would go to the trouble of attracting insects. And what a beautiful picture!
Gorgeous!
It charmed me so!
Spectacular! Such crisp color and detail. And I love learning the scientific terms - anemophily, entomophily, ambophily. Sounds like the makings of a poem to me. Will let you know if they ever become one.
Thanks, Ruth. Please do write that poem! (And I've got an entire dictionary of botanical terms -- it'll keep you busy! 😀)
Exquisite!—the butterfly with its fringed edges, striped antennae, and teal-glitter-edged eye spots; the elegantly stylish beaksedge; and the biologist (Oh, that eloquent biologist!) on his belly. What a winning combo for all of us nature-lovers. Thank you, Bryan.
Oh, you are too kind, Judy. Thanks so much. It's so nice to hear from you. (By the way, I'm become more aquatic, getting hooked on Mollusca: https://chasingnature.substack.com/p/i-touched-extinction).
Chasing Nature - my top purchase of 2022 and a delight to look forward to in 2023! Thank you, Bryan.
Aw, shucks, Shirley. You've made my day. Thanks. It's always so nice to hear from you. I'm humbled.
Fantastic, thank you - I'd never read about (or seen) beaksedges before.
Thanks, Lisa. So great to hear from you! I wonder if the white-bract species get far enough north to you -- I suspect at least one does.
Lovely. ❤️
Indeed!
Thanks for pursuing your curiosity and finding an answer to the question of why a plant pollinated by wind would go to the trouble of attracting insects. And what a beautiful picture!
The paper I cited is cool -- it includes some rigorous testing for whether an insect visitor is indeed actually a pollinator.
Magnificent! You, Cassius Blue, and dances with beaksedges, too. A delightful read.