Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, Once an Important Tool

Teasels, Dipsacus fullonum and Dipsacus sativus,  in the teasel family, Dipsacaceae, for centuries were essential to the clothing industry. Today, in North America, they are noxious weeds.

dead teasel plant
teasel showing the seed heads

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Quick Overview of Bee Pollination

Bees are numerous and are good pollinators, so many plant species have flowers tailored to bees.

bumblebee on golden banner
Bumblebee (Bombus) pollinating golden banner (Thermopsis montana)

Monday, November 4, 2024

Plant Story--Artichoke, Cynara cardunculus, Edible Thistle

You do know that the artichoke is the immature flower head of a thistle, don't you? It is a strange vegetable, with layers of leaves you tear off to eat a bit of "meat" at the base, but that doesn't make most people think of thistles. Nevertheless, the artichoke, Cynara cardunculus, sunflower family Asteraceae, is the cultivated version of a big thistle from around the Mediterranean, the wild ones called cardoons or artichoke thistles.

artichoke in grocery store
artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) in grocery store