The Beauty in Wildflowers

by Mary Deal

Title

The Beauty in Wildflowers

Artist

Mary Deal

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

These delicate purple flowers are found, along with their long stamens and leaves, growing wild along roadsides and in pastures and fields on Kauai. I have not been able to locate the name of this so-called weed. However, I find much beauty in the delicacy of this plant and in the beauty of wildflowers.

This is an edible tasty flower known as Jamaican vervain (Stachtarpheta sp.), also known as porterweed, or rat's tail. It is native to tropical Central America, and there are several species found in Hawaii. It grows along roadsides and disturbed areas at lower elevations, we found plenty on seaside cliffs. The leaves are opposite and toothed, with a rough surface. The plant produces a long, spindly flower spike about 12" above the leaves, and there are a few tubular, 5-petaled, blue or purple flowers blooming along this flower spike at a time. This flower tastes like shiitake mushrooms, and have a slight sedative effect when eaten in quantity.

AWARDS:
1st PLACE - Flower Arrangement (Juried) - 11-14-21

FEATURED:
Still Life Florals - 8-08-21
Your Best Work - 6-23-13
Three A Day Greeting Cards - 6-22-13

The artist, Mary Deal, is also an award-winning author of mystery/thrillers, a short story collection and writers' reference books. Read about it here:

http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm3f

Uploaded

June 20th, 2013

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