A hairy bulbous thing with a long red snout
Here’s a native tree with unusual blossoms: if you were going to design a flower, would you include a hairy bulbous thing with a long red snout on it? I’m sure I wouldn’t, but every spring I’m happy to see the strange blossoms of the Mexican buckeye tree, Ungnadia speciosa, which grows natively not only in Mexico but also in Texas and southern New Mexico. I photographed this one on the property of native plant cheerleaders Pat and Dale Bulla in northwest Austin on March 5.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Gosh, for a moment I wondered why you’d be writing about my grandfather, but then realized it was a flower that had your attention. And a strange one it is!
New Hampshire Garden Solutions
March 16, 2012 at 7:56 AM
What you wrote about your grandfather is funny. Thanks for the morning smile.
Steve Schwartzman
March 16, 2012 at 8:05 AM
Very nice photo, and funny! 😉
bentehaarstad
March 16, 2012 at 8:28 AM
I like to play with words, and that title seemed too good to pass up.
Steve Schwartzman
March 16, 2012 at 8:52 AM
Lovely photograph and blog entry. I like the balance you achieve between colorful description for the layperson and botanical information–all packaged in precise, clean prose. It keeps this reader coming back for more.
ovsoutdoors
March 16, 2012 at 8:28 AM
What you wrote would make a great blurb for a book jacket. Thanks, and by all means keep coming back.
Steve Schwartzman
March 16, 2012 at 8:57 AM
I guess you have to write that book now 🙂
ovsoutdoors
March 16, 2012 at 11:06 AM
I put together a version of the book some time ago. The trick is finding a publisher willing to make the commitment; I’m still working on that part.
Steve Schwartzman
March 16, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Good luck in your endeavor.
ovsoutdoors
March 16, 2012 at 1:25 PM
I can’t decide if it reminds me of a baby hummer in hiding, or a kiwi who decided to take up ballet (rotate photo 1/4 turn to the right). Whichever you may choose, it remains that your photo is a great view of a hitherto unknown (to me) flower!
~ Lynda
pixilated2
March 16, 2012 at 8:49 AM
You’ve got a healthy imagination this morning, Lynda. A good way to greet a species that’s new to you.
Steve Schwartzman
March 16, 2012 at 8:53 AM
I have a healthy imagination all day every day. It drives my husband bats because, for the most part, he doesn’t see the world I paint for myself in quite the same way. I suppose this is a problem, but not for me.
😉
pixilated2
March 16, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Strangely captivating, but the flower has a job to do and we are only interpreters of nature’s design, Sally
Sally W. Donatello
March 16, 2012 at 8:58 AM
You said it: the flower has a job to do. I’m assuming that the bulbous thing is an ovary.
Steve Schwartzman
March 16, 2012 at 9:40 AM
A Very Unique Flower! Have a Great Weekend:)
cravesadventure
March 16, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Will do, especially if we get some blue skies after days and days of overcast.
Steve Schwartzman
March 16, 2012 at 12:38 PM
[…] March 5, as I was photographing the Mexican buckeye blossom that appeared in this morning’s picture, an olive hairstreak butterfly, Callophrys grynea, landed on it. I focused on the butterfly and was […]
A visitor to Mexican buckeye « Portraits of Wildflowers
March 16, 2012 at 1:49 PM