Ticker for October 31, 2008

                
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October 31, 2008   October 31, 2008   October 31, 2008   October 31, 2008



"Ice Weed" Identified

The last edition of the Ticker had a link to an article that had
link to a picture that showed the rare and fleeting "ice flower"
that extrudes out of an active plant during sub-freezing weather

In English, what that means is the root system is still actively
moving soil water to the above-ground part of the plant, where it
freezes as it slowly pours from pores. The roots, obliviously
thinking everything's warm and happy up top, keep pumping water
upward, which continues to force its way out of the plant as
beee-youtiful ice "petals".

Well, as often happens aroudn here, a Ticker reader became a Ticker
contributor. Dan Butler of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission
told us about the aptly named "frostweed" that is famous for
pulling that act in the fall in Oklahoma.

In Dan's words:

The really beautiful and rare "ice flower" you linked to
is formed around a common Oklahoma plant called, appropriately,
frost weed. Here is a picture and a short description of how
it works. I have seen it in Cleveland and Pott counties but
I think it grows all over E Oklahoma.

Dan was also kind enough to include a link, which happens to be from
our Sister Survey ... the folks over at the OK Biological Survey:
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/frostweed.html

Thanks Dan!