Hydrangea robusta in UBC’s Asian Garden
Photographed yesterday in the David C. Lam Asian Garden at UBC, this hydrangea is a favourite for its “lilac-dusted leaves”; caused by petals falling from the senescing flowers. The effect is barely visible in this photograph, but if you are sharp-eyed, you can spot it on some leaves in the lower left of the plant. Long-time readers of Botany Photo of the Day might also recognize the Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ previously featured in June.
From The Jade Garden:
The name Hydrangea comes from the Greek hydro meaning “water” and angeion, meaning “a vessel”, in reference to the dehiscent seed capsules, which are shaped like a Grecian water jar.
The Flora of China’s written account of Hydrangea robusta is accompanied by an illustration of the seed. If you’re curious, compare that drawing with a photograph of a Grecian urn to see if you agree with the literal meaning of Hydrangea.
As an aside, I note that in Keats’ “Odes on a Grecian Urn”, the poem ends with ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty’–that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.. Was it inspiration for Botany Photo of the Day’s tagline of In science, beauty. In beauty, science. Daily.? Not consciously, I promise.
I am no botanist, but I have had plenty of Hydrandeas in my southern hometown of Mobile, Al. and have seen them scattered over the Southeast. This photo must be of a different variety than grown in the southeastern U.S.? It bears no resemblance to that which I am familiar.
curious,
judy sells
Judy:
Many of the Hydrangeas you are probably familiar with in the southeast would be one of the many hundreds of cultivated varieties, many of those derived from the species Hydrangea macrophylla. The large “mophead” clusters of blooms of those plants are composed largely of sterile flowers. (Soil pH is a factor in the color of the bloom in those varieties, with acidic soils generally resulting in blue flowers.) What look like petals are bracts which surround the actual flower.
These plants have been bred to favor those with the largest, showiest flower heads. There are many other varieties and species of Hydrangea, some with showy blooms, others much more inconspicous ones.
-Matt
thank you for clearing that up!
You’re welcome. Hope it wasn’t too much information!
once again I thank my Lord for the beauty and rich color he allows me to see and enjoy every day
Thanks Matt.
I thank Daniel and the other hard-working people who make this site possible and allow me to enjoy it and other beauties.
I wonder if the hydra may not actually be a reference to the multiple seed heads therefore Hydra the many headed beast of Greek mythology?
I much prefer this variety (and the others with less conspicuous blooms), to the heavy ‘mophead’ types. This particular one, with the lilac and white, is especially nice.