I've recently noticed a certain type of plant that grows wild in places along the embankment of the railway line on which I travel to and from work. It's a strange plant and I do not know its name. Its long leaves grow and curl into such positions to suggest that it is animated. I can imagine those leaves flailing around, searching for food, and then closing on a hapless bird or small animal that has wandered too close.
John Wyndham has a lot to answer for.
The specimens in the photo above are about 3 metres (10 feet) in width. I'm always on the lookout for things to inspire me for miniature scratch-building projects. These plants look suitably alien and I could imagine them as perfect terrain for some futuristic miniature tabletop skirmish game.
6 comments:
It looks like a Century Plant, a type of Agave.
-Scrabblette
Hi Scrabblette!
It looks like you are indeed correct. I've checked out the Century Plant pictures and it appears to be a perfect match. They're originally from Mexico and I was surprised to find that they make Mezcal from them. Thanks very much for identifying them for me. Cheers, Wayne.
I've seen a lot of them in flower around QLD lately, which is quite a rare thing. The photo in the article below is quite amazing, and with a reference to the Triffids even :)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1043993/Pictured-The-rare-plant-towers-owners-house-Britains-barmy-weather-causes-grow-25ft-weeks.html
Wow! Now that's a monster-sized plant! I'm going to be on the lookout for flowering Agaves now. Cheers, Wayne.
Sadly, although it is a very useful plant in medicine, it is considered a weed and an invasive and poisonous naturalised plant in SE Queensland and the government advocates the planting of Native Ginger as an alternative.
-Scrabblette
Hi Wayne,
Spotted tons of them in flower on top of Kangaroo Point Cliffs today and thought of you. There are some photos on my FB site.
-Scrabblette
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