Turning red

Yesterday’s post mentioned that Eastern gamagrass, Tripsacum dactyloides, produces male flowers that vary from yellow to orange in color. As time passes, the orange may deepen to red, which is normal. What’s not normal is the way the flower stalk shown here is strangely twisted. What to make of this I don’t know, but I find it appealing.

In the “Did you know?” department: teratology is the scientific study of abnormal botanical and anatomical formations. Today’s picture is for you, teratologists of the world.

For more information about Tripsacum dactyloides, including a clickable map showing where this species grows, you can visit the USDA website.

© 2011 Steven Schwartzman