Sunday, August 19, 2012

Uncommon White Flowers

All species show variations, but I think those differences are most noticed when they deal with color.  Every year I find a few plants with flowers displaying white petals instead of their normal hue.  These two diminutive Rose Pink plants were growing side-by-side; one with white petals and the other with standard pink petals.  This species produces a few white petaled individuals each year.

The dry prairies are filled with Hairy Small-leaved Tick Trefoils with their long stalks of lavender blossoms.  I shouldn’t have to point out the obvious face showing in each bloom.

One lone plant is producing stalks of white flowers.  From a distance, the white blossoms are much easier to see.

Sadly, the face is not nearly as evident in the white flowers. 

The Wild Petunia regularly displays petals in varying shades of blue and lavender, but the differences are not enough for the casual observer to notice.

When the Wild Petunia shows itself in white, the blossom stands out from the crowd.  As a manager of wild plant populations, I enjoy seeing these variations.  A wide range of genetic choices is an indicator of a healthy population and makes that population more resilient and able to survive environmental changes.  Flower color may mean little to the future survival of a species, but these visible signs of genetic diversity suggest that there is also much genetic variation present that is not so easily detected. 

2 comments:

  1. "A wide range of genetic choices is an indicator of a healthy population and makes that population more resilient and able to survive environmental changes." I think the same could be said of people in a society--not only genetic variation, but also unique personalities and people who aren't just like everyone else! Great post!

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  2. Thanks Melissa. I've long enjoyed observing diversity within the human population. It's fortunate that each person's unique qualities can allow them to be comfortable in their own unique societal niche. It seems that there is always someone who is perfectly qualified to deal with any challenge that develops. Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't find some people to be extremely annoying.

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