Pricking your attention ...!

Scientific name: Bidens pilosa
Bidens pilosa is a cosmopolitan, annual herb which originates from  tropical and Central America. The Spanish Needle, Black Jack, broomstick, broom stuff, cobbler's pegs, devil's needles, is a weak annual that grows up to one meter in height. Its hardiness, explosive reproductive potential, and ability to thrive in almost any environment have enabled it to establish throughout the world. This plant is considered a weed in some tropical habitats. Bidens pilosa is used as a medicinal plant in areas of Africa, Asia, and tropical America. The plant has ornamental value also. In the clothing industry, it is used for dyeing of silk threads. Due to its medicianal value my friend was searching for this plant and later we could find some plants with beautiful flowers in the CSRTI, campus almost a year back. This has pricked me at several occassions while i was going for photo shoots. This photograph i took on 30th November, 2010 on my way to Coonoor, somewhere in the Nilgirihills in the way side, as we stopped for a refreshment.

Eyeing your heart.........

Scientific name: Verbena hybrida.
Verbenas are natives of North and South America. Though these are perennials, but most hybrids are grown as annuals. As many of the hybrid verbenas have a trailing habit, it can be attractive when planted in containers and window boxes. The toothed or cut leaves usually grow opposite each other and reach a length of 1 to 3 inches. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. For best results it has to be grown under full sun. The individual flowers are small, but borne in dense, many flowered clusters. Corolla colours range from white, pink, crimson, scarlet, vermilion, purple, blue and yellow and each flower is having a white central eye. This photograph was taken on 26th April 2011 from Sims park, Coonoor, during a family visit.

Entrancing the imagination........

 

Scientific name:Quisqalis indica
The rangoon creeper, burma creeper or chinese honey suckle is a wonderful vine suitable to trellis and roof top, native to asia. The genus name in latin means what is that? The vine can reaach upto 8 mts. The plant shows profuse growth and climbs up other trees and builldings if guided. The leaves are elliptical with an acuminate tip and a rounded base. The flowers are fragrant and tubular and their colours range from white to pink to red. Mostly flowers throughout the year and are formed at the shoot tips. The pinkish red flowers droop down from the bunch and the buds look upwards. I took this photograph on 24th April 2011 from Brindavan gardens of Kirshnarajasagar dam in Mandya district of Karnataka.

Radiating your soul....

Scientific name: Nymphaea panama pacific

The water lily is the most wonderful plant any home garden can possess. It is grown in samll ponds or even in containers. There are many varieties and shades of water lily grown across the world. During my childhood, school days and college days, I have been seeing this beautiful water angel around me in the village ponds. The one which is shown here is the one with radiating yellow. It lifts us your soul, radiating energy and enthralls you. This photograph is captivating and fills your heart with energy. I took this photograph from the entrance point of my institute, where I work presently, on 31st aug, 2011.

Reflecting your thoughts.....

Scientific name: Viola sp.

Pansy is one of the most widely cultivated garden plant. Usually the modern viola cultivars are the Viola tricolour hybridized with other viola species. These are cool weather flowers. The flowers are almost heart shaped with overlapping petals and a combination of violet, red and white colours. The striking feature is the face like center markings, which when observed from different angles gives a distinct look and reflects in different moods or thoughts. These big blotches which resemble faces make them one of the favourite flowers of gardeners. This photograph was taken from the Botanical garden, Ooty on 27.04.2011, while on a family trip.

Symbol of bright heart ...

Scientific name: Ipomoea nil

The Blue morning glory or Japanese Morning glory is an annual or short-lived perennial plant, cultivated for its highly attractive morning blooms. This plant climbs on the support provided and profusely flowers. The beautiful flowers open early in the morning and do not last long, as the sun heats up, it folds down! I have a great admiration to these flowers and love to see them smiling throughout the day, but its a dream. In the current Dussera flower show at Mysore, there were many such plants, maintained very beautifully in pots. This photograph i took in the morning of 5th October, 2011.  And today being Dussera, i dedicate this flower to my dearest friend, a symbol of bright heart like this morning glory !

Scientific name: Ipomoea cairica

The mile-a-minute vine or Railway creaper is a beautiful evergreen creeper.It creeps over everything and anything around it. The hairless leaves with 5-7 lobes gives a smooth and pleasant look. The plants can be seen almost all along the railway tracts and hence the name! The purple flower studded vine wrapped around the material in which it twines is a wonderful sight. I have an obsession with the creeper as it has followed me where ever i worked.  While i was working in Denkanikottai (Tamil Nadu), i used to visit farmers for inspecting their silkworm crops. I used to take a particular route, just to enjoy the beauty of this vine spread over the way side hedges with numerous flowers smiling at me. Even in Mysore, just outside my lab, the old well is fully covered with this vine and i lost the count how many times i have gone and enjoyed the beauty. Further, outside the gate, it has formed a hut like structure, where i leaned in and took this photograph, on 11th September, 2011. I was literally about to fall off the hedge, while doing so ... but it is worth taking the risk to enjoy the beauty.