Botany Photo of the Day

named by Linnaeus

Digitalis purpurea, foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Published by Daniel Mosquin on December 24, 2018

Was this purple foxglove intentionally planted against the orange lichen-encrusted wall? The effect of having all three of the secondary colours adjacent to one another is pleasing to me, whether it is by design or not.

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The fruit of Mespilus germanica

Mespilus germanica

Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 23, 2018

If, like me, you are a fan of the word “bletting”, then medlar is the fruit for you. Bletting is a process whereby the astringent and firm tissues of the fruit are broken down with time into an edible sugary mush. Side-by-side photos of semi-ripe fruit and bletted fruit are available via Wikipedia: Mespilus germanica.

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Inflorescence of Kalmia angustifolia

Kalmia angustifolia

Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 14, 2018

Common names range from the poetic to the descriptive to the eminently practical. A number of common names for Kalmia angustifolia land in the latter part of the spectrum: lambkill, sheepkill, and even calfkill.

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Tillandsia recurvata on ocotillo

Tillandsia recurvata

Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 11, 2018

Mexican ball moss is not a true moss. Like its close relative, Spanish moss, it is a member of the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae).

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Arenaria grandiflora, plant

Arenaria grandiflora subsp. grandiflora

Published by Daniel Mosquin on September 5, 2018

Large-flowered sandwort is primarily native to mountainous regions bordering the western and central parts of the Mediterranean Sea. Aptly illustrated in the first photograph, the typical habitat is dry, rocky sites.

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The flowering head of Medicago sativa

Medicago sativa

Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 20, 2018

Alfalfa, or lucerne, lined the roadsides in many places during my recent trip across Canada’s Prairies. In a few places, it was also cultivated as a crop for hay.

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A white-flowered Arethusa bulbosa

Arethusa bulbosa

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 26, 2018

Dragon’s mouth orchid, like several other orchid species, is subject to mutations in flower colour (including the lack of pigmentation). The pink-coloured flowers in the second photograph have the typical colouration.

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