Interesting Finds

This page is a collection of recent discoveries that captured my attention. They may have been appealing because of their beauty, their unusual appearance, or just because I haven’t seen anything quite like them and wanted to know more.

Research shows that our brains are attracted to novelty; new discoveries bring us delight. My reasoning says that since God created our brains this way, and since He also created a seemingly endless abundance of discoveries, this is another evidence He takes pleasure in bringing us joy. Consider this as you browse my interesting finds and go out to discover your own in that fellowship of joy. I’d love to hear about them!

Cauliflory and the Eastern Redbud Tree

Cauliflory – the term brings to mind a vegetable, right? In this case though, it refers to a plant that bears its blooms and fruit directly from its woody trunk or main branches (derived from the Latin meaning stem flower). This is a unique growth characteristic because the majority of trees produce blossoms on new growth, near the tips of their young actively growing stems. Most cauliflorous trees are native to the tropics – the chocolate tree, tropical fig, coffee, or papaya tree are examples, so a tree that typifies this trait in our temperate zone is certainly an unusual find! I was surprised also to learn that redbud is a member of the Fabaceae family, or the pea family. I can see the resemblance in the structure of its flowers and in the fruit, a pea. To read more, check out this PDF, Redbud Cauliflory: The Inside Story, or this post at The Paintbox Garden, Radiant Redbuds.

Ladybug Life Cycle

All the bright colors and the spikes on this “bug” really stood out against the flower pot! I discovered more of them on the impatiens in our front yard. Along with them were other little bugs that looked like tiny battle tanks, due to their arthropod-like shells. When I spotted a ladybug nearby, I suspected due to the coloring that these were all versions of the same little creature. With a little research, I learned the larva hatches from eggs; after 2-4 weeks it forms a pupa, from which the adult merges in 5-7 days. In the browner lower pupa, the hole is visible in its back end where the adult emerged. I really enjoyed this time lapse video of the ladybug’s life cycle. Dr. Gordon Wilson’s article about metamorphosis describes how “every choreographed step underscores the wisdom and power of our Creator.”

Umbrella Magnolia

“What’s that?” our son asked, pointing off into the woods. We were hiking at King’s Mountain National Military Park, and I loved the excitement in his voice. I was hoping it wasn’t a bear or a skunk. “Right here in this tree, the big red … is that a fruit?” It did look vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t figure it out. We examined it as closely as we could for any other identifying helps; the leaves were huge – close to 18 inches, and were clustered on the end of the branch. My research proved it to be an Umbrella Magnolia, the common name referring to the arrangement of large leaves that resemble an opened umbrella. It flowers in May and June, a creamy white flower with an unpleasant aroma. It grows in the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains from Pennsylvania to Alabama. Look for this irregularly shaped tree in the understory, especially in more moist areas.

Thread-Waisted Wasp

I was attracted to this wasp because of its distinctive anatomy and the contrast in its coloration. It was a spectacle, reminding me of a robotic type of space movie creature. I was mesmerized as it put on a show, striking different poses for me while seeking out the nectar.  I thought it was a Dirt Dauber, but after some research realized it’s a Thread-Waisted Wasp — hence the name. They feed on nectar but hunt caterpillars mostly as food for their young. The wasp digs an underground burrow in which to lay her eggs, hunts for prey, and paralyzes her catch with her stinger. She takes the immobilized prey back to the burrow, deposits an egg alongside, and after repeating this several times, covers the burrow with pebbles and dirt to conceal it. Upon hatching the larvae consume the still living prey, and the life cycle continues. Read more at this Bug of the Week article.

Purple Beautyberry

Such gorgeous berries — that’s what caught my attention! And they really pop against those lime green leaves. Callicarpa, its genus name, means beautiful fruit. I learned one of the species, C. americana, is a native woodland plant in the southeastern states, but I had never seen one until I spotted this one in my neighborhood. These images show how the berries begin white and quickly turn purple. They appear in late summer and last through late fall, providing food for many species of birds. I want some in my yard! Check out Clemson’s Home and Garden Center to learn more.

Chinese Yam

I noticed this plant growing wild along Four Mile Creek Greenway in Matthews, NC. It quickly drew my interest because it looked like little potatoes were growing on the vine, complete with eyes! A little research revealed I’m not the only one drawing this conclusion. Two other common names are Air Potato and Cinnamon Vine, the latter referring to the fragrance of its flowers. Originally from China, they are a food source for their yam-like root and have medicinal uses as well. They are now considered invasive plants in many states and can take over acres of land, similar to Kudzu. The air potatoes, called bulbils, fall off and are easily transported to other areas by water or rodents. They sprout quickly into new vines; even a small piece will sprout just as potatoes do.

Potato Bean

This plant was interesting because of the unusual flower clusters of such a unique color. It was growing near the bank of a pond in Travelers Rest, SC. It has other common names such as Hopniss or American Groundnut, and produces beans and ground tubers, both of which are edible. The tubers look similar to a sweet potato and can be prepared in the same way. It has both nutritional and medicinal value, and butterflies are attracted to the flowers. This was a staple food for many Native American tribal groups who introduced it to English settlers when they arrived. The colonists, upon realizing their value, enacted a town law to prevent them from digging the groundnut on English land. Interested in growing your own? Contact our local organic farmer, Mary Roberts, at Windcrest Farm. Her seeds will be available in spring 2021 and shipping is available.