Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Nature's Wonders... Flying Seeds In Our Garden!

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This is the story of a flower... from the seed stage...

I saw these 'ajjara gadda-like' (thaaththa dhaadi' or granpa's beard!) things strewn all over my small lawn one morning, last week! I had never noticed them earlier. I have got these flowers for many years now and have seen the long horn-like seeds but not these things, which were inside the long seed! My blogger mind decided to take pictures of them from morning to evening...have a look and enjoy nature's magic!



I saw them like this, in the morning! It took sometime for me to register from where they had come!



They were like this in the afternoon...blooming to fly!



They had literally started flying and touched my face too! So beautiful looking things!



Click on the picture and you can notice the sunlight reflecting on them!



No, it is not yet Deepawali, but these things look like sparklers!



This is the main seed. The closed seed was there for many days now. Looks like a flying bird, right?! It decided to open on that day!



The lone, what shall I call it, no it is not flower, baby seed(!) is still sticking, doesn't want to leave yet! Isn't this beautiful?! I love the colour combination here!



This is THE FLOWER...do you remember something? Yes, my profile flower!

I checked with our friend wikipedia and it says that this (wind dispersal) is one method of dispersing seeds away from the mother plant which gives more scope for survival. So nature has given them feathers to fly away and germinate again!

By the way, I don't know the botanical or common name of the flower, please tell me if anyone knows! This is sort of me, you know!


Edited to add an hour later: My niece, Sharada, has mentioned about the name of the flower...Desert Rose! Botanical name is, Adenium Obesum. Interesting note in wikipedia about this flower: The toxic sap of its roots and stems is used as arrow poison for hunting large game throughout much of Africa!
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24 comments :

Renu said...

is it Gurhal..then its botanical name would be hibiscus rosa sensis.if it is not t, then it must be from the same family...

you have taken the beautiful pictures.

Anonymous said...

Lovely pictures!

Yes, they do look like sparklers. You must have enjoyed watching them fly. :)

Sandhya said...

Renu: I checked with wikipedia. It is not hibiscus rosa.

Thank you, Renu!


Manju: Yes, enjoyed thoroughly, esp. when they were flying around my face and head!

sharada.econtent said...

Great pics, mami, I remember my childhood. We used to collect this and play with it. It's comon name is desert rose and botanical name is adenium[adenium obesum] family-apocynaceae.

Kavita Saharia said...

Loved your flying seeds. .It is so nice so share these wonders through blogs-thanks to your 'blogger mind'. What camera are you using Sandhya ,pictures are very bright and clear.
About the flower ,i am sorry i have no idea.

Bikram said...

beautifully captured , i need some of thsoe seeds :) for my garden ..



Bikram's

R. Ramesh said...

lovely pix, excellently captured...sparkling post

R said...

lovely!

Sandhya said...

Sharu: Thanks for providing the name of the flower, Sharada!

We used to play with round feathery balls, not like this one, when we were small! We were playing with them without touching them but blowing at them from one place to another! It was fun!


Kavita: I was very happy to do this post, Kavita! Sharada, my niece provided the name of the flower, desert rose!

The camera was Nikon except for the first and last picture, which were taken by Olympus!

Thank you, Kavita!


Bikramjit: Will send you some! Thank you!


Ramesh: Thank you, thank you!!!


Ram Pyari: Thank you, Ram Pyari!

Destination Infinity said...

The 'sparkles' photo especially is very very nice! Nature did so much to ensure that all species have a good chance of survival, but sadly created humans at last!

Destination Infinity

KParthasarathi said...

It is a common place thing seen(not closely observed as you did) everywhere but the studious in you has brought out its beauty in a pictorial and informative manner.Thanks a bunch.

BK Chowla, said...

Pictures look beautiful. Really, rest is not my subject

Sandhya said...

Destination Infinity: You are right, Destinatiion Infinity! These species struggle to survive among humans!


KParthasarathy: Thank you, Partha Sir!


BK Chowla: Thank you, Chowlaji!

Wini said...

These are called "Appupan Thaadi" in Malayalam! Or maybe they are similar and not the same. Not too sure. They are so delicate. Bangalore has got a lot of the Paper-Winged seeds! They are beautiful and during winter they keep flying around everywhere.

Nice pictures!

Bikram said...

oooh Ok ok thank you... waiting :)

Bikram's

Swaram said...

Oh I used to love these lessons in Botany :) Thanks for sharing the pics Sandhya. Loved the sparkler-act :)

Sandhya said...

Ashwini: Those are round shaped feathery seeds. This one has got a small stick-like thing in the middle which is the seed.

So you still admire Bangalore, eh?!


Bikram: Waiting?! These seeds were not mature enough to become plants, our Gardner said! It is called desert rose. If possible, if they allow, I will bring one to you, when I visit UK next time!


Swaram: Everyone seems to like the sparklers! Thank you, Swaram!

Bikram said...

yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy :) ok thats would be goood then i get to meet you too :) excellent idea ...

Roshmi Sinha said...

Desert rose sounds sooo much better than Adenium Obesum - which sounds like Adam is suffering from obesity. No?

Sandhya said...

Bikram: Yeahhhhhh, one day I might gate-crash your home, haha!


Roshmi Sinha: I am laughing and coughing now. 'Adenium Obesum - which sounds like Adam is suffering from obesity. No?', you are incredible, Roshmi!

Shail said...

Interesting to read about this plant. I remember seeing it in your home and yes, I clicked it too :D
The seeds look lovely in their flying costume! :D

Sandhya said...

SHAIL MOHAN: Yes, they were very beautiful! I remember trying to collect them, running here and there in the aftrnoon...there was nobody on the road to look at me running around like a mad woman! People could look through the gate!

Thanks for the comment, Shail!

KS said...

Came across your blog while surfed through Ek chidiya. Thank you Sandhya for writing such an interesting and informative article. Kalyani

Sandhya said...

KS: Welcome to my space, Kalyani! Thanks for the comment! Have a look at other posts on different subjects!

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