Purple Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata), first of season!
The Ten-petal Anemone (Anemone berlandieri) has started to loose their petals.
However, the petals are not really petals. They are sepals.
Sepals typically cover the flower part doing the bud stage as in this example.
In this early stage of growth, the fruiting receptacle has not gotten tall yet.
The flower has no petals. And here the fruiting receptacle (green thingy) was probably almost full size. Most of the pollen was gone in this photo.
A tiny thrips (tentative ID) was hanging out on a Ten-petal Anemone. The word “trips” is both singular and plural. Plant-feeding thrips (Thysanoptera) are generally found on soft living plant tissue. BugGuide also said beware of the thrips as it can give a slightly painful bite. Look at all that pollen!
Colors range from white to this deep bright purple. Ok, I know some people call this blue. However, my color vision says purple. LOL
Now I did say in the title there was a training video. Well, here it is!
I learned this as kid and still enjoy shooting the “bullet”.
Instructions: Gather your mature stalks of the Ten-petal Anemones but still somewhat flexible stem. Next choose one. Bend back the stem over itself. Tighten your grip at the base of fruiting receptacle. And pull off. The “bullet” flies off. Well most of the time. 😉 So let your inner kid have at it!
More from Fossil Hill tomorrow.
Keep looking!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know
I’ve been bitten numerous times by thrips – they do cause a twinge. I guess they like my garden since I don’t use pesticides. They seem to prefer nibbling on my ankles when I’m wearing ankle socks with by gardening shoes. 🤔🤷
I love the video. And i didnt know thrips bite.
They are definitely purple!
Must try the anemone Bullet one day too
I’ve been bitten numerous times by thrips – they do cause a twinge. I guess they like my garden since I don’t use pesticides. They seem to prefer nibbling on my ankles when I’m wearing ankle socks with by gardening shoes. 🤔🤷
Interesting that they crawl up on you. I had only guessed that it would be picking them up. So good to know!
I’ve had a thrips land in a book. I didn’t realize it was singular and plural.