MPnormaleye
Phytomorphology 10: Mark of The Monarch
What we have here is an exterior examination of the vascular system of a vegetative structure: a leaf. We observe the effects of an antimicrobial allelochemic response. The leaf produces an organic compound called phytoncide which retards decomposition and discourages insect attacks.
In other words, this is a leaf protecting itself. Leaf self defense. It’s a leaf refusing to go gentle into that good night. It’s a leaf in Alamo mode; it can’t win, but it’s not giving up without a fight. It’s a leaf that can quote Daidōji Shigesuke, the samurai scholar: One’s way of dying validates one’s entire life.
Forget the chemical reaction, forget the systematic study of a plant’s structure, forget even the purpose of a leaf. Just look at it. Just look at it, and appreciate the beauty of its ending as a celebration of the beauty of its life.
Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, greg fallis and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
