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Thistle and brimstones: explosion in the fluff factory Thistle and brimstones: explosion in the fluff factory
(about 5 hours later)
There are specks in the sky over every field and garden, silver-spoked seeds of thistledown, the snowflakes of summer. Up there in the blue, some float past to wherever, some bunch up unloved in the corner of a spider’s web, and one has slipped indoors and rests weightless on my windowsill.There are specks in the sky over every field and garden, silver-spoked seeds of thistledown, the snowflakes of summer. Up there in the blue, some float past to wherever, some bunch up unloved in the corner of a spider’s web, and one has slipped indoors and rests weightless on my windowsill.
The other day, I went to a mass-production fluff factory, the thistle-lined dykes of Ouse Fen outside St Ives.The other day, I went to a mass-production fluff factory, the thistle-lined dykes of Ouse Fen outside St Ives.
The flat-packed seeds, crammed into every flower head, were exploding open in slow motion. Some flowers were in the middle of volcanic eruptions, the seeds spilling out as hairy lava.The flat-packed seeds, crammed into every flower head, were exploding open in slow motion. Some flowers were in the middle of volcanic eruptions, the seeds spilling out as hairy lava.
The seeds’ radiating spokes acted as anchors as well as sails, so they generally made short maiden voyages of only a few centimetres, to lodge in the spiny stems, forks and heads of thistle, teasel, burdock and bramble.The seeds’ radiating spokes acted as anchors as well as sails, so they generally made short maiden voyages of only a few centimetres, to lodge in the spiny stems, forks and heads of thistle, teasel, burdock and bramble.
Such was the profusion of down, it was as if someone had burst a thousand pillows all along the bank. Even on this almost windless day, the gentlest waft of air was enough to dislodge them in ones and twos, and they drifted up and away, through the willows and over the river.Such was the profusion of down, it was as if someone had burst a thousand pillows all along the bank. Even on this almost windless day, the gentlest waft of air was enough to dislodge them in ones and twos, and they drifted up and away, through the willows and over the river.
Not all of the thistles had reached maturity. A few, here and there, were still in bloom. Peacock and painted lady butterflies shunned them in favour of teasels, but brimstones had a taste for deep purple.Not all of the thistles had reached maturity. A few, here and there, were still in bloom. Peacock and painted lady butterflies shunned them in favour of teasels, but brimstones had a taste for deep purple.
These were young, yellow-winged males, and since they alighted on no other flower, they may have learned already in their short lives that thistles are a better source of nectar. Flighty on the wing, they seemed fearless in their feeding, so it was possible to bend towards their prickly host and see the front end of a brimstone at work. It was drinking out of a ruby red straw of a proboscis. The antennae were of the same colour and I glanced down to see that they matched the stained stem of a bramble exactly.These were young, yellow-winged males, and since they alighted on no other flower, they may have learned already in their short lives that thistles are a better source of nectar. Flighty on the wing, they seemed fearless in their feeding, so it was possible to bend towards their prickly host and see the front end of a brimstone at work. It was drinking out of a ruby red straw of a proboscis. The antennae were of the same colour and I glanced down to see that they matched the stained stem of a bramble exactly.
Here on this dyke was a heady mix of summer colours – red, yellow, green, purple, pink and magenta. And thistledown, silvery-white, as far as the eye could see.Here on this dyke was a heady mix of summer colours – red, yellow, green, purple, pink and magenta. And thistledown, silvery-white, as far as the eye could see.
Derek Niemann @DerekNiemann
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