Diversity

These foxtails beckoned in the breeze, inviting me to stop and admire their varied hues and graceful dance. Stunning to look at, the foxtails (Hordeum jubatum or Foxtail Barley) are very single minded in their purpose and design. Their spikelet clusters are made to spread the plant’s seed via animal traffic. When wild animals move through the plants the foxtails cling to their animal hosts’ short coat and later disperse in a different location as the animal travels. Pretty nice ride!

But foxtails are on the naughty list for pet owners because of their tendency to burrow into the longer coats of dogs, and even into the soft tissues of the nose, ear & mouth, causing infections. Not too poetic, but then, what’s a weed to do? Only its job.

Beauty and danger. Diversity.

Please come back tomorrow for a new “Weed Image of the Day” and let me know which ones you like.

We and our weeds are so much more than what we first appear to be.