Wordless Wednesday
Does this look familiar to anyone?
What could this be? A very well disguised grenade? An ancient weapon of torture? Believe me touching one of these is torturous, those thorns are very prickly and sharp.
It’s a seed pod and it’s at least the size of a golf ball or a regular sized plum if not bigger. Actually, looking at the photo I’d say that it was about that size when I took the photo.
This seed pod forms immediately after the short lived flower drops off. It takes a week or more for the seed pod to reach this size. Seed pods form throughout the growing season. I’ve found that if I remove the seed pods – naturally with heavy gloves or by carefully positioning my pruners I get more flowers than I would if I left the pods on.
This flower is not hardy to my Canadian zone 6a, or USD zone 5B garden, but I seem to miss a seed pod or two each year, or so I think, and the plant regrows each summer.
I have two of these plants. One has large white flowers and the other has very pale mauve flowers. The blooms have a heavenly almost jasmine like scent, but it’s leaves smell when crushed between the fingers. I can’t describe the smell well – rank, musky, unpleasant.
Oh yes, this plant is said to have been used by native Indians for it’s hallucinatory properties – even though it is a very poisonous plant.
What type of plant does this seed pod come from?
Update: For those of you who were wondering – it’s a DATURA seed pod.
I can’t name this one. I was thinking it was a tree, and the pod gets hard and brown. But I’m guessing that’s not right because of the flowers. Interesting photo!
I’ve posted my Wordless Wednesday, too. Enjoy!
It looks like an orchid to me. But then, I’m not that good when it comes to garden trivia. It definitely looks painful; I see why you wear heavy gloves around that thing!
My Wordless Wednesday is posted as well. Have a great day!
I would’ve guessed it was a sick porcupine (lol…it’s green)
Including your description of the flowers, especially the color and scent, and the look of the pod, it sounds like Jimsonweed, or another Datura. They are in the Nightshade family.
I’m also thinking Jimsonweed.
I have the same type of plant growing in my garden. I left it just to see what it will do. The flowers only lasts a few days, then this mean looking pod grows. I’m in Tennessee and none of my neighbors have it in there yard. I’m thinking the people who use to live here planted it. I pulled it up last year but it came back.
I was told it was a very tall flower
that attracts hummingbirds and the seeds
are inside the green ball. You break it
open and scatter the seeds and step on
them just so there in the dirt a little.
Supposed to plant seeds just before it
snows
I believe it’s a Nightshade, or some form of it. I recently saw them at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and was curious about them myself.
We (Topeka, KS) call it a Moonflower…..only blooming with the moonlight….thus the name.