The well-defended plant has benign and fragrant flowers

Click for greater clarity.

The only parts of bull nettle, Cnidoscolus texanus, that aren’t covered with chemical-filled hypodermic needles are the flowers. They’re white, somewhat waxy, and fragrant. I’ve dared to lean in and sniff some, and I can say that the scent reminds me of gardenias.

Like the last photograph, this one comes from northwest Austin on July 2.

© 2013 Steven Schwartzman