Botany Photo of the Day

A beautiful plant when in bloom--it grows as a weed on disturbed ground in Dona Ana County, New Mexico--but a pest otherwise. At least, that's what farmers always told me. I have photographed it with enjoyment myself.

What an odd looking plant. It would fit in nicely on board the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USS_Enterprise_%28NCC-1701%29%2C_ENT1231.jpg

Those have been hardy in Denver for several years now.

I'm in Tucson, too, mine have just started blooming; they'll bloom from early spring on into late fall, and the they sprout readily from seed.

My yard is always sprouting volunteers.

Caesalpinia gilliesii - Z8 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Caesalpinia gilliesii - Z9-11 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk
Caesalpinia kie-sal-pee-nee-a After Andreas Caesalpini (1519-1603] Italian botanist. gilliesii gi-leez-ee-ee. After John Gillies [1747-1836] Dictionary of Plant Names, Coombes

Of note the seed pods use explosive forces as they dry to launch the seeds away from the plant. The ones in my backyard can launch at least 10 ft away. They seem to shoot off at dusk and can be heard as a snap. I have been hit by the seeds as I work on my back patio.

Quite an amazing means for seed distribution. We planted one and now have quite a few growing in our yard in a perimeter around the original.

Thank you for posting my photos and for all the interesting comments. I had no idea they sprout volunteers and are considered a weed. I grew this one from a seed. I didn't know that the pods spit out the seeds with such force either. I'll beware when I'm on my patio or in my backyard. Another plant that releases its seed forcefully is Devil's Claw. That one blooms in the monsoon (late summer). It's also a beautiful flower and rich in folklore. I once tried transplanting one, but it didn't take. I'll post some photos of it next time I see one in bloom. Has anyone seen that Nature program about seeds, I think it's called "The Seedy Side of Life"? It shows a Devil's Claw releasing its seeds in time-lapse photography. Awesome show.

so many interesting peiople
to meet and links to follow thank you

as i was reading i thought about
a plant called touch me not--one
touch lightly and the seeds would pop out
a plant of my little girl hood when flowers
turned upside down made dresses and dolls

i live in florida will this plant grow here

No, they don't transplant well, at least from out of the ground, in my experience; I've never been successful.

If you want one to grow in a certain place, plant a seed in a pot and plant it when it's started getting established or just grow them from seed where you want them. They'll sprout readily...I've got herbs in pots growing near mine and I'm constantly pulling seedlings out.

Conversely, they're also damned hard to kill...for example, I have one growing outside my kitchen window that's growing right next to my foundation, I've cut it back to 4-6" below the ground and it keeps coming back. They benefit from a drastic pruning during the dormant season, or they get pretty leggy.

Yes, they grow in Florida...we gave some seeds to my mother-in-law, and she was even able to grow one in a pot in Ohio. Had to bring it in in winter, but it grew well. I'm fairly certain she said she got them going at her winter home in FL (Tampa area).

Actually, the Red Bird of Paradise is more showy. It has bright red and orange flowers. The pods are almost identical,