Scabiosa
The seed head of a garden scabiosa (pincushion flower):
The repeating pattern caught my eye. The globular spent flower cluster is about a half inch across. This was at 2x or 3x magnification.
Notes from the field, essays, and observations.
The seed head of a garden scabiosa (pincushion flower):
The repeating pattern caught my eye. The globular spent flower cluster is about a half inch across. This was at 2x or 3x magnification.
I like the repeating pattern too.
Thanks, Melissa! It was time to try an abstract again.
We think of hexagons in a honeycomb, but you’ve given pentagons their due.
I don’t think the flower has a pentagonal aspect – it’s seems to have a different structure.
I’d never heard of scabiosa; the seed heads are as beautiful as the flowers. They remind me of our spider lily. Do they turn brown, eventually? I suppose so, but that green is gorgeous. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen precisely that shade in nature.
In some ways, your photo reminds me of a sea creature — maybe a kind of minimalist sea urchin.
The flower Is urchin-like as well, with the needle-like anthers and pistil. They do go brown eventually. I’ve photographed the flower many times, but I hadn’t noticed how interesting the seed head is until now.