And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
This is the exploding seed pod of a touch-me-not plant, which belongs to the genus Impatiens.
Specifically, this exact visual comes from nature documentary footage showcasing Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) or its close North American relative, the spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis, also called jewelweed).
Ballochory (Explosive Dispersal): As the seed pod matures, cell walls inside the green skin build up intense mechanical water pressure.
The Trigger: The slightest brush from an animal, a gust of wind, or a human finger triggers the five segments of the pod to instantaneously split and coil backward.
The Launch: This sudden curling action violently catapults the internal seeds several meters away from the parent plant to prevent resource competition.
We used to plant those every year. What was nice is that they seeded themselves and would spread throughout the flower garden. Unfortunately, the nurseries in our area don't sell that variety anymore because of a fungus outbreak that has not been successfully eradicated.
sort of looks like okra ?
ReplyDeleteThis is the exploding seed pod of a touch-me-not plant, which belongs to the genus Impatiens.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, this exact visual comes from nature documentary footage showcasing Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) or its close North American relative, the spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis, also called jewelweed).
Ballochory (Explosive Dispersal):
As the seed pod matures, cell walls inside the green skin build up intense mechanical water pressure.
The Trigger:
The slightest brush from an animal, a gust of wind, or a human finger triggers the five segments of the pod to instantaneously split and coil backward.
The Launch:
This sudden curling action violently catapults the internal seeds several meters away from the parent plant to prevent resource competition.
We used to plant those every year. What was nice is that they seeded themselves and would spread throughout the flower garden. Unfortunately, the nurseries in our area don't sell that variety anymore because of a fungus outbreak that has not been successfully eradicated.
DeleteScout trick. Jewelweed sap is a remedy for stinging nettles and poison ivy.
ReplyDeleteIn Ohio always grew colocated with stinging nettles.
ReplyDelete