Archives: October2009

• NASA “Moon Bombing” a Hit, But LCROSS Impact Invisible?

  Today’s NASA “moon bombing” was a success, experts say—but don’t tell that to some sky-watchers. The LCROSS crashes may have been visible only via an “imagination filter.”

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Edithcolea grandis

  

  Lindsay Bourque composed today’s article.

  Thank you to scott.zona@flickr for submitting today’s Botany Photo of the Day (original image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool)!

  This stunning flower is borne from a decumbent succulent stem; the stem is often eaten as a vegetable in Ethiopia and Somalia. Native to northeastern Africa, it is also found in very localized areas of Kenya, Tanzania and Yemen. Edithcolea grandis is the only representative of its genus. Its natural distribution is becoming more restricted and it should be considered a candidate for protection wherever it grows naturally. As Scott notes, it emits an odor that is described as “carrion” or “fetid” — meant to mimic rotting meat in order to attract pollinating flies.

  Commonly called Persian carpet flower for its colour and pattern, it is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental in desert gardens worldwide. However, it has gained a reputation as a particularly difficult plant to keep because of its very specific growing needs and will often succumb to rot before producing one of its tantalizing blooms.