Is that an oxymoronic title? I think not. Ascleplias syriaca has an undeserved common name—the Common Milkweed is uncommon in many respects and certainly is not weedy in stature. And after taking a close look at a few of this plant’s intricate structural adaptations, I have to say the adjective “magnificent” is not an overstatement.
That bit of purple prose comes after another trip to the Celery Farm to chronicle the milkweed flowering and fruiting cycle. Right now, the Phair’s Pond milkweed patch is in its flowering prime. The globular floral umbels are doing what they are designed to do—attracting pollinators and ensuring the transfer of unique pollen packets from male to female floral parts.
The pollinators are mainly honeybees. That is comforting to see, what with all the stories going around about mysterious colony collapse and empty beehives. The bees buzzing around the milkweed patch seem active and healthy—active enough that successful photography was a challenge for this amateur. I’ll share some of my less than spectacular results in future posts.
What is it about the Common Milkweed that excites me every time I visit the patch? In a word—everything! A few future posts will be devoted to some specifics about the structure, functions, biochemistry and symbiotic relationships that make this plant so special. Meanwhile, spend some time staring at the unique and intelligently designed flower structure—and the downright beauty you can see in the photograph. (Click on it to enlarge it.)
That bit of purple prose comes after another trip to the Celery Farm to chronicle the milkweed flowering and fruiting cycle. Right now, the Phair’s Pond milkweed patch is in its flowering prime. The globular floral umbels are doing what they are designed to do—attracting pollinators and ensuring the transfer of unique pollen packets from male to female floral parts.
The pollinators are mainly honeybees. That is comforting to see, what with all the stories going around about mysterious colony collapse and empty beehives. The bees buzzing around the milkweed patch seem active and healthy—active enough that successful photography was a challenge for this amateur. I’ll share some of my less than spectacular results in future posts.
What is it about the Common Milkweed that excites me every time I visit the patch? In a word—everything! A few future posts will be devoted to some specifics about the structure, functions, biochemistry and symbiotic relationships that make this plant so special. Meanwhile, spend some time staring at the unique and intelligently designed flower structure—and the downright beauty you can see in the photograph. (Click on it to enlarge it.)
No comments:
Post a Comment