This blog is for gardeners above, beyond, and below the surface. For those interested in botanical names, inventories, collection and else.

Not recommended for gardeners depending only on nurseries for the practice.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

WEED BEHAVIOR IN PLANTS

I have been  interested  in weeds, their behavior, history, aesthetic value and possibilities in  the garden, for quite some time. I will present a few examples from a wide and extended list in most urban, rural eco-regions  around  the isle.

Weed behavior could be defined as self seeding habits in the urban context where I live and practice gardening.  The taming of asphalt/concrete is part of the scheme, since these seeds  will grow in any imaginable crack, crevice or surface with little dust/soil/dirt, water or humidity, under light or shady conditions. Before I get there lets check this information, pertinent to the subject.

Weeds* often produce seeds in prolific numbers.  A good sized mullein or Canadian fleabane can release in excess of 400,000.  Weed seeds have evolved devices to ensure they get ferried to the widest range of new habitats. They can be armed with hooks, burrs, spines, ribs, hairs to help them stick to passing animals (or botanists legwear). There is also seed glue.** The common garden weed shepherd's purse is named  for its seeds heads, which resemble the little pouches or skrips worn by medieval peasants. Open up a purse and the seeds spill out like tiny gold coins.  They are covered with a thin layer of gum, which become stickier still when it's moistened--as for instance by contact with the soil--so that it can cling to the feet of birds. 

 WEEDS
RICHARD MABEY
PAGES 30-31
  

* Many plants also...** Mesquite, in me collection is one good example. 

Tecoma stans is very popular and pleasant. In the urban context is a pain the arse. The amounts of seeds are incredible, flying long distances and growing where they please. Bees love them, therefore, the mess they create is balanced when flora/fauna is concerned.  Bees and hummingbirds are fans.


Turnera ulmifolia.  The seeds are minuscule, blown by the wind they are moving up and down the vecinity...It can grow 5', a favorite of bees.


OTHER WEED BEHAVING SEEDS
IN SANTURCE

Pithelobium dulce
One of a few perfect trees for the right context/space. I has been featured before.It can reach a monster symmetric size with a round nice scaffold and crown. Birds love the sweet red/white pods.

Swetenia macrophylla

There are plenty of these trees around. Most of the time in too small back yards, sidewalks, planted in every wrong possibility one may think of.  The amusing difference is that nojuan ever plants Pithelobioums, it grows where it wants, like a weed if I may. 

These few exampless will suffice to get my drift. 

I made some comments recently about 
Guaiacum officinale in Feisbuk, in therms of their aesthetics and properties for the urban context.

In turn the photographer, in a futile attempt to be cute, added his view on the durability and hard wood quality. I added that since I am not a carpenter or woodworker..Juat the hell, what matters to me is the beauty having one at home since it was 5" and to enjoy the crown and scaffolding, perfect for the spot where is planted at 10', seven 7 years later.

that is that.

2 comments:

  1. Buen Año 2012 !!!!!!!!!!

    “Tú eres lo que es el profundo deseo que te impulsa.
    Tal como es tu deseo es tu voluntad.
    Tal como es tu voluntad son tus actos.
    Tal como son tus actos es tu destino.”

    -Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5..

    Siempre podemos escoger entre vivir el mundo cual lo conocemos o cambiarlo en el que deseamos, la decisión al final es de cada uno según decida ejercitar su libre albedrío.
    Que este nuevo año nos brinde paz, amor, salud, armonía, unión, felicidad y prosperidad.

    Para ti y seres queridos un Buen Año 2012!!!!!!.
    .
    Abuela Cyber

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  2. Some of those weeds (Tecoma, Prosopis) are quite nice ornamentals, esp if native, designed well, and don't displace native species, suck water, etc.

    A famous landscape architect in Arizona (Steve Martino) says his designs are about "walls and weeds". Durable yet appealing. You might enjoy his work...like a desert version of Roberto Burle Marx and Luis Barragan - http://www.stevemartino.net/

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