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I am very much inspired by the turn-out of comments in the previous post linked to Word for Wednesday. However, i still am in limbo for the real ID of my supposedly "dill-but no-dill" plant! I have tried Google search, inputted the flower photos for it to search for similar images, but still no deal or no dill!
One of Onenezz and Tropical Nature Photos thought it is a citronella plant, but i searched and citronella plant has very much larger leaves and the venation and patterns are different. The more differences it has with citronella grass, which i personally know is a monocot, as grasses are monocots. My mystery plant is a dicot with almost parallel venation, might somehow be mistaken for a monocot. I would love to show you other photos of my mystery plant, "dill or no dill".
This plant when densely planted can serve as a soft hedge around the garden, and people trim the top to be denser and offer more fence-like protection.
"Dill or no dill against the sky, it sometimes grow up to around 1 meter high
a more close-up view of the growing point
a mature "dill or no dill" with mature flower stalks
maturing "dill or no dill" plants
a profusely blooming "dill or no dill"
a transparent white Parantica vitrina lingering on the drying branches, which i purposely cut for them
they even mate there clinging on the dried leaves
this is a blue and larger form of the Ideopsis juventa manillana
I am not familiar with this butterfly, it is like a small Euploea mulciber
a lot of them at least 4 species congregating there sipping "dill or no dill" sap
Other critters also love to reside in the lush growth of my "dill or no dill" plant. This cricket doesn't want to leave it too.
I just don't know if it also sips the sap of the green plants
this green spider is camouflaging inside the thick leaves, even built its house there
...and i also saw a baby praying mantis. Praying mantis are territorial, so it will just stay there and prey on whatever comes to its home for food. It looks like it is praying, maybe begging for food to come! Or maybe praying that he will not be the prey for a bigger one!
POSTSCRIPT
Appreciation and gratefulness is due to One for her identification of my "dill or no dill" plant, as Artemisia scoparia. It is very common in Malaysia especially for landscaping. It is rich in essential oils used for medicine and industries. The vegetative plant is also feeding lots of butterfly larvae. The plant is anticholererolemic, antipyretic, antiseptic, cholagogue, diuretic and vasodilator. It has an antibacterial action for Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, Bacillus dysenteriae, Bacillus typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Pneumococci, C. diphtheriae, mycobacterium and others. It is also used in the treatment of jaundice, hepatitis and inflammation of the gall bladder. Reference: http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/artemisia-scoparia.php
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I don't have a clue what it is either but that sure is a lot of insects that seem to be attracted to it.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Hi, I have no idea what your mystery plant is... BUT---I love your butterflies...That blue one is gorgeous... AND your other critters are neat too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Over here it is known as the mosquito plant. It could be called Artemisia Scoparia. I had thought all mosquito plants were called citronella. Looks like that is incorrect.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Andrea....but I think One is onto something. I've seen this plant in the tropics and it's a magnet.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating Dill or No Dill discourse. We love a mystery! As for those butterfly images, Andrea - superb! I'm really missing butterflies at present ... we won't see many now until the spring, but it's largely that I've moved from our home in suburban Wales to a town centre location (largely concrete environment) in an English town. Thankfully there is a watercourse and marina ... and I get to watch the murmuration of starlings most nights at sunset, though at a great distance.
ReplyDeletedill is a gret herb. :) And your butterflies are gret. Nice adn clear shots of tehm.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice coment on mu photo blog. :)
Great post with fantastic photos of critters and great information. Your butterflies are beuatiful.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
Yes, this plant is indeed common here. I'm so glad you have already ID the mystery plant. I will surely love this plant as it seems to attract many critters. Will be on the lookout for it. Cheers to Andrea and One! hehehe...
ReplyDeletelove dill on salmon.
ReplyDeletei really enjoyed your previous post on textures in nature. well done.
I had no idea what is was, I just knew it wasn't dill. I love all the butterflies on the stems!
ReplyDeleteHuh, wow seems like a wonder plant! I was going to say the close-up view of the growing point looks like Cosmos before they bloom. Very pretty and lacy foliage!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your visit, both in the previous part on textures and for playing along with me in this one. I certainly appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteSunray Gardens - I always leave some of these plants at the side so i can cut and dry them for the butterfly parties. thanks for the visit.
Betsy - thank you for the comments, but I still haven't got at least 1/3 of your commenters, haha! Take care always.
One - I hope I made you smile in this post, but certainly my long quest is now over with your assistance. Now i will extend the ID to all my neighbors who have them too. I will also experiment on its repellant properties for mosquitoes, as its scent is better than citronella.
Chris - thanks, but what do you mean by "this plant is a magnet"?
Caroline Gill - thanks for appreciating my discourse on Dill or No Dill. I hope you smiled. Since you will miss critters and butterflies now that you are in the big city, you should come over here more often, because we have them all the time. I already know now the meaning of "murmuration".
Nature Footstep - you are a good photographer, and i appreciate your nice words for mine. thanks.
Flower Lady - thanks for the kind words. I always remember you as the Quilt Lady instead of the Flower.
ReplyDeleteAaron - looks like you didn't read the whole article, haha. This Artemisia is not a dill, and is very common in Malaysia.
Autumn Belle - I am glad i didn't privately ask One or you before posting this, at least we have something to laugh about, and I had a different post style, haha.
Photo Cache - thanks for visiting, but this is not dill, although the scent is still lovely.
Casa Mariposa - I actually wonder why other butterfly species don't like to join their party.
Plant Postings - yes the leaf patterns of this plant is lovely, and if you smell the scent, lovely too, no wonder those butterflies get intoxicated. Thanks for the visit.
This post was not only helpful but very useful too. Thank you for sharing this piece of your expertise with all of us. Cheers!
ReplyDeletei love flutterbys
ReplyDeletehappy weekend =)
Great photos and I love the butterflies and praying mantis.
ReplyDeleteI would like to plant that around the yard to attract butterflies! Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoyed your photos of the blue butterflies.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully captured! I love the luscious color of your "dill or no dill"
ReplyDeleteLittle Equestrians, have a great weekend!
Beauty - thanks for dropping by and for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteTricia - I appreciate you visit and comment.
eileeninmd - i spent a lot of time following butterflies, haha. thanks.
Pat - yes you should, but be sure to have some branches drying under the green, they love it at that stage more than the green.
EG Wow - that blue butterfly is very difficult to shoot, unless a bit intoxicated by that plant's sap, haha.
chubskulit - thanks for the visit.
ITS NO DILL......This is what most plant experts call the false dill .... the plant scientific name called Artemisia species ( Artemisia californica)or wormwood.
ReplyDelete