Words and pictures from the author of And the Crows Took Their Eyes as well as the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries . . .
Friday, May 28, 2010
Spiderwort and the Lewd Arum
I stopped in at my favorite plant nursery on Wednesday to pick up some eggplant starts and was seduced by this gorgeous chartreuse-leaved spiderwort. Sure, spiderwort grows wild around here but it doesn't look like this.
Spiderwort's 'real' name is Tradescantia, in honor of the Tradescants (father and son), English naturalists who introduced the plant to England back in the early 1600s.
Their friend John Smith (yes, the Pocahontas one) brought them many plant specimens and tradescantia virginiana was probably one of them.
And here below is the lewd arum -- aka Arum Dracunculus. I've posted about it before -- it has a way of calling attention to itself. It looks likeThus Spake Zarathrutrashould be playing but it can't manage that. Instead it emits a VERY strong odor of rotting carrion to attract the flies that will aid in pollination.
I've never seen or heard of a lewd arum before. The name seems very appropriate, though. I have spider wort in my garden. Even when everything else seems to be determined to choke it out, it rises above and flashes its beautiful blue. I love it!
Lovely flowers... Thank you to make me discover the Tradescants! I remember Maurice Sendak's books * because I read them to my children. And I love Tomi Ungerer's novels too ! *a good way to tame our nightmares ...
That's a very pretty plant with vibrant green leaves. I hope it settles in well and thrives in your garden. Thanks for giving us a peep. Blessings, Star
I'll pass on the lewd arum even though it is rather pretty. First time I have seen it or the spiderwort. Thanks for the history lesson. An added bonus. Enjoy your weekend.
13 comments:
Mmmm!
Lewd...rotting carrion stink and flies!
Who wouldn't want that in his garden!
;-p
The purple flowers on the Spiderwort are beauties ... the Lewd Arum, well now that sounds interesting? LOL
that is just the smell i want in my flowers...lol.
Wow. They are so beautiful. Lovely pictures. Glad you got them home!:)
Yes, I like the 'chartreuse-leaved' spiderwort. You fit it into the perfect pot. So interesting too about its history. Thanks.
Beautiful! I've heard of spiderwort, but couldn't tell you what it looked like. But, lewd arum. Hmm. You better keep an eye on him!
i love atypical flowers. i mean, they are here for themselves and not always to please us right?
though they are beautiful!
I've never seen or heard of a lewd arum before. The name seems very appropriate, though.
I have spider wort in my garden. Even when everything else seems to be determined to choke it out, it rises above and flashes its beautiful blue. I love it!
Yeah, I know -- why have something that smelly around. I guess I'm just fond of its weirdness.
Lovely flowers...
Thank you to make me discover the Tradescants!
I remember Maurice Sendak's books *
because I read them to my children. And I love Tomi Ungerer's novels too
!
*a good way to tame our nightmares ...
How interesting nature can be! Your entry is very informative, though the very strong of rotten carrion does not appeal to me!
That's a very pretty plant with vibrant green leaves. I hope it settles in well and thrives in your garden. Thanks for giving us a peep.
Blessings, Star
I'll pass on the lewd arum even though it is rather pretty. First time I have seen it or the spiderwort. Thanks for the history lesson. An added bonus. Enjoy your weekend.
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