Last night I introduced you to what I call my five o'clock. It does have a proper name; maybe you can see why I picked the name I did. According to
100 Roadside Flowers of Southwest Woodlands,
easily overlooked during the day, long-flowered four o'clock springs to life at dusk as the pure white flowers unfold, revealing long, purple filaments and orange anthers. A few species of hawkmoths with extremely long tongues are the only pollinators of the flowers. I have to disagree with the experts on one point; I do not think those long delicate tubes waiting to open are easily overlooked.
As for the hawkmoths -- those night-flying fellows who hover like the hummingbird -- I refer you to
The One Acre Wood. And as for the grass below, I just thought it was a pretty little orphan with no specific post idea as home and therefore included it here.
Last night I introduced you to what I call my five o'clock. It does have a proper name; maybe you can see why I picked the name I did. According to 100 Roadside Flowers of Southwest Woodlands, easily overlooked during the day, long-flowered four o'clock springs to life at dusk as the pure white flowers unfold, revealing long, purple filaments and orange anthers. A few species of hawkmoths with extremely long tongues are the only pollinators of the flowers. I have to disagree with the experts on one point; I do not think those long delicate tubes waiting to open are easily overlooked.
As for the hawkmoths -- those night-flying fellows who hover like the hummingbird -- I refer you to The One Acre Wood. And as for the grass below, I just thought it was a pretty little orphan with no specific post idea as home and therefore included it here.
That is an interesting flower. The sprout of green makes a perfect photo.
ReplyDeleteSteve -- thank you, thank you as I get ready to head down to the airport in Phoenix to put dotter & GD on the plan to Alaska.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the relationship between the hawkmoth and that four o'clock, but E says he's seen the plants covered with tomato worms.
ReplyDeleteRather, an identical looking worm, but a bit smaller.
Have a safe trip to the big city and please give your girls a big goodbye hug from E and me. We're looking forward to reading about their Alaskan adventures.
I'll be on the lookout for the caterpillars next time I see the plants. As for the family, dotter & GC just called...they arrived complete with two cats & three turtles.
ReplyDeleteWe have a kind of mirabilis here, one really hot summer a couple of years ago we had some fantastic big hawkmoths around them.
ReplyDeleteThe last one looks like an old dragon breathing green fire.
Lucy -- The hawkmoths also like the datura; didn't know you had either the moth or the mirabella in France! And you're right about the dragon.
ReplyDeleteCool.