FRENCH LAVENDER FLOWER

This was the first flower that I became interested in its details. Of course, this plant would have a complicated floral anatomy, thus it was wise for me to have waited awhile before attempting to fully understand its morphologic development. As a side note: I eventually discovered that there are many species of lavender plants.

The French Lavender flower thrives in full sun and needs six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. It does not like shade; it fact, it is shade intolerant. It likes dry locations and is a hardy plant. It also repels mosquitoes and has a pleasant scent (the honey bees certainly like it!).

It is toxic to dogs and another animals if ingested in large quantities. 

French Lavender, known scientifically as Lavandula stoechas, is a fragrant (belongs to the mint family), bushy, evergreen perennial native to the Mediterranean region. This plant can be as tall as up to 78 inches (6.6 feet) tall. There are no known fossils of this plant; apparently L. sotechas evolved about 2500 years ago. Egyptians made perfumes with this plant. Today, there are about 30 to 50 species of this genus (Wikipedia, 2025).

The flowers of the French lavender show inflorescence in the form of minute blue- or white-colored flowers arranged on a spike.

Figure 1. A French Lavender Plant in full bloom: the bush was 46 inches tall, 42 inches wide.

Figure 2. Purple flowers at top of vertical stems.

Figure 3. View of minute flowers (and a large purple bract at the top of the stem, so as , as to attract pollinating insects).

Figure 4. Additional view of minute flowers with an ant (peeking up over the right side of this image) for scale. It was just lucky to have the ant crawl into the picture just as I snapped the shutter. I could not have planned it better.

 

Basilosaurus: A Whale of a Fossil

Originally, this whale's was incorrectly thought to be a reptile because of its long and narrow skull [note: the suffix saurus has traditionally been used for reptile names]. It was referred to genus Zeuglodon by very early paleontologists; most of whom (all?) believed Basiolosaurus to have been a mosasaur (a reptile). The name Basilosaurus means “king lizard, but this animal was not a lizard! It has been wrongly said, in generalized context, that Basilosaurus was the whale that replaced mosasaurs.

Basilosaurus was a giant predatory whale (i.e., an apex predator) that lived during the latest middle Eocene (41.3 million years ago) to early Oligocene time (33.9 million years ago). It had a long, eel-like body, a long, narrow skull, large jaws, and a variety of different-shaped teeth. Its back flippers were very small. It was an unusual-looking whale that was up to 65 feet long and weighed 15 tons. It had a comparatively small brain. Its front flippers retained their elbow hinges. In sum, this genus represented “a very low branch on the whale evolutionary tree.” It is generally believed that modern whales did not evolve directly from Basilosaurus.

                                       Figure 1. Basilosaurus

The vertebrate of Basilosaurus were filled with fluid rather than solid bone as is the case with all modern whales. Thus, Basilosaurus lived mostly near the water’s surface, otherwise its hollow backbone would have crumpled under intense water pressure in deep water. 

Basilosaurus had a fearsome set of teeth: canine-shaped incisors in front and flattened, but strongly serrated teeth “molar” teeth in back. Thus, Basilosaurus  had heterodont teeth (meaning different types of teeth for different purposes). It was a whale, therefore, not a reptile! It teeth makes Basiolsaurus unique in the world of whales! 

Figure 2. Basilosaurus skull and teeth. Canine-shaped incisers in front and flattened, serrated triangular “molars” in back. Some workers have referred to the latter as “yoke teeth.”

                                                                       Figure 3. A single Basilosaurus "yoke" molar tooth

 (several inches in height).

The genus name Basilosaurus was once a “wastebasket taxon” and could still be! It has been used for all sorts of poorly known and poorly understood collection of middle to late Eocene whale fossils. It could still well be a “wastebasket” taxon. There are only two confirmed species of this early whale: a species from the southeastern United States (e.g., Mississippi and Alabama) and a different? species from Egypt and Jordon. In recent years, other “species” have been reported from every continent, including Antarctica (see Wikipedia, 2025). In my humble opinion, a detailed morphologic comparative study is needed for all of these whale fossils in order to positively ascertain their generic identification(s?) and to determine their relationship to one another.

To date, Basilosaurus is restricted to middle to upper Eocene deposits. There was a climate change at the end of the Eocene epoch. This change this was caused by global cooling and shifting of important current patterns (Squires, 2003).

 

References Cited:

Fenton, C.L. and M.A. Fenton. The Fossil book. Doubleday, New York. 740 pp.

Squires, R.L. 2003. Turnovers in marine gastropod faunas during the Eocene-Oligocene transition, west coast of the United States. In: From Greenhouse to Icehouse, the marine Eocene-Oligocene transition. Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 14-35.

Wikipedia. 2025. 

A BEAUTIFUL COMPLEX FLOWER

This flower can really “pull you into its orbit.” I spotted it in a neighbor’s yard and was immediately overwhelmed by the beautiful but confusing array of colors in the central-flower area. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It took some time and effort to determine its genus/species, and it was a quite a journey into the very confusing world of flower-inflorescence jargon.

                                  LANTANA CAMERA Linnaeus 

Classification:

Kingdom Plantae

4 clades

Order Lamiales

Family Verbenaceae

Genus Lantana

Type Species L. camara

  -about 150 known species

Brief Description:

-a spreading, thorny perennial shrub 3 to 6 feet tall

-leaves heart-shaped, ovate, round, can be wrinkled; margins scalloped

-flowers clustered in compact heads

-flowers can be orange, pink, deep red, purple, or yellow [all on a single flower!]

-grows as dense stands, crowding out forage plants: therefore, can be an invasive plant 

- likes full-sun conditions

- repels mosquitos

Four images of different Lanatana-flower complexes on the same plant (total height about five feet tall). Each image is about 4 inches in width:

The type of inflorescence found in these flowers is axially corymb: the flowers are small, tubular, and each has four petals arranged in cluster at the terminal ends of the stems. The  sequencial progression of color changes (e.g., from yellow to orange to pink or red) is largely triggered by the pollinators. In sum, Lantana has inflorescences that are two- or three-colored!

Note: It was not easy, but I finally discovered a website that really helped a beginner (like me) in trying to understand the overwhelming and very jargon-filled, confusing world of inflorescence: please check it out.

https://aurovilleherbarium.org/contents/descripton-flower.php?id=115

The associated glossary found at this above-mentioned website will provide you with all the images and details you need in order to see and better understand the details of Lantana, as well as many other genera. It won’t be a waste of your time! The Auroville Botanical Gardens in India deserves an award in excellence for their website that is truly a virtual herbarium! This site also has a glossary and an extensive bibliography. It is a truly outstanding website!

GLADIOLUS FLOWERS: VERY DISTINCTIVE BUT SHORT-LIVED

GLADIOLUS

Family Iridaceae

Tribe Gladioleae

Genus Gladiolus

Type Species: G. communis

About 180 species are known. The first species was bred in 1837, in England. Thus this genus has no geologic time record.

This very distinctive plant originated in South Africa and Mediterranean region, but some of its species are native to tropical Africa.

Gladiolus is also known as the “sword lily” because of its sword-shaped leaves. It has vibrant flowers that can be red, yellow, orange, white, pink, or light purple/blue. They are arranged vertically, on one side of a long "stem." 

 

The flowers are poisonous to humans and domestic animals. The blooms of this plant last about 2 weeks or so. It is a perennial plant, thus it "comes back" every year in warm climates-(but will be an annual in cooler, more northern areas).

Gladiolus flowers are  

Order Asparagales

Family Iridaceae

Subfamily Crocoideae

Tribe Gladioleae

Genus Gladiolus (has many synonmys)

Type Species Gladiolus communis

The four images shown below show some of the variety of the colors of Gadiolus. The plants are about 4 to five feet tall.

  

TO BE OR NOT TO BE A LILY FLOWER

This post is about two well-known flowers that have been referred to (again and again!) as supposedly lily flowers, but they NOT! Once again, here is proof that serious misnomers abound in the scientific world. 

                             CALLA “LILY” [is not a lily!]

Classification: 

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (3 of them)

Order Alismatales

Family Araceae

Genus Zantedeschia

Species aethiopica 

The common name “calla” is derived from the Greek word, “kallos,” meaning beauty. Graceful and elegant trumpet-shaped, the bright-white blooms thrive in both full sun and partial shade. They are easy to grow and maintain, and they bloom in late March and early April in the northern Los Angeles area. These beautiful (“eye-catching”) flowers grow best in groups. They prefer shaded areas.

Calla flowers are perennial (last more than one year), and their plant can be up to 48 inches in height. The yellow spike in the middle of the  “flower” (see Figure 2) is called (in botanical terms) the spadix. That it is where a group of tiny flowers cluster together (e.g., = an inflorescence). The main outside petal of the callas flower “wraps around” and protects these inner tiny flowers. Typically callas are bright white, but horticulturists can breed various colors: yellow, red, pink, orange, black, or purple. There can be a mixture of two separate colors, for example, patches of purple and white.

Calla flowers are native to southern Africa. They do well in cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, northern Asia, Alaska, Canada, and the northeastern United States (Wikipedia, 2025). I could not detect information about their geologic age range. This is due, I suspect, because of the considerable confusion concerning their classification.

                            Figure 1. Calla from my backyard in

                   northern Los Angeles County, Southern California.

                    Figure 2. A cluster of calla from my backyard.

                  The blooms are each about three inches in width.

                          Figure 3. A enlargement of the previous

                      figure, showing a calla and its central spadix.

THE FORTNIGHT “LILY”  [also is not a lily!]

 

This flower belongs to the Iris family. It has a very distinctive flower with three pale-yellow petals and three dark purple (to black) spots. It is often used in public gardens and for landscaping. In sum, it is a memorable flower and is easily recognizable. Its blooms last for about two weeks, thus the name “fortnight.” It is a perennial flower. 

Dietes bicolor (shown below) is native to South Africa but is now widespread throughout the world in warm-temperature regions. It requires full to partial sun and needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.

Genus Dietes is comprised of six species. This flower likes wet conditions, such as along ponds or canals. It is frost-hardy, drought resistant, and easy to care for. It blooms in spring and summer. 

Figure 4. 

Figure 5

Figures 4 and 5. Two specimens of Dietes bicolor (each specimen is 1 3/4 inches long) from northern Los Angeles County, southern California. 

   Classification

Order Asparagales

Family Iridaceae

Genus Dietes

Type species D. bicolor

Dietes bicolor (shown above) is a flower native to South Africa but is now widespread throughout the world in warm-temperature regions.

It requires full to partial sun and needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. It belongs to genus Dietes, which has six species. This flower likes wet conditions, such as along ponds or canals. It is frost-hardy, drought resistant, and easy to care for. It blooms in spring and summer (Wikipedia, 2025). 

Reference 

Wikipedia, 2025 

note: NO ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE (A.I.) WAS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS BLOG POST.

NOT EVERTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A LILY IS ONE

Lilies are among the most popular flowers. They have great “eye appeal,” just like roses, orchids, to name a few. They occur in just about every common color you can name. There are MANY different types of lilies, but the main ones (“True Lilies” and “Day Lilies”) are the subject of this blog and are shown below. 

The correct spelling is lily; plural form is lilies.

The classification of true lilies is:

Kingdom Plantae

Clades (3 of them)

Order Liliales

Family Liliaceae

Genus Lilium

Type Species: Lilium candium Linnaeus

Liliaceae most likely originated approximately 68 million years ago, during Late Cretaceous time (Wikipedia, 2025). This family is native to temperate regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. There are many hybrids of these flowers with a vast array of colors.

So far, so go, eh? Now brace yourself. There are also flowers known as “day lilies,” which belong to genus Hemerocallis, family Asphodelaceae. These flowers are not true lilies, but they do look like at true lilies at first glance. 

There are considerable differences in morphology between true lilies and day lilies, and the comparisons I list below should  be helpful.

TRUE LILIES

Order Liliales

Family Liliaceae

Genus Lilium, >100 species

Many colors (including white); just like any other popular flower you can mention)!

Grow from bulbs.

Its leaves are relatively few and smooth.

The plants are perennials.

Flowers last for several days or even weeks.

Plants grow up to 4 feet tall.

Poisonous to cats.

COMMON EXAMPLES: tiger lily, Easter lily

                                                                              FIGURE 1: TRUE LILIES

_______________________________________________________________________________________

DAY LILIES [are not true lilies]

Order Hemerocallis 

Family Asphodelaceae 

Genus Hemerocallis [Greek: meaning “day” and “beautiful”]; many species.

Grow from tuberous roots (= rhizomes) and have grass-like foliage at the base. 

Leaves are long, flat, and strap-like; they grow in clumps mostly near the ground.

The leaves are numerous and very close to each other, thereby producing a look.

Flowers typically last only a day or so, but new flowers on the same plants show up all the time.

Native to Asia and central Europe.

1 to 4 feet tall.

30,000 named varieties.

       

  FIGURE 2. DAY LILIES.                                                                     

Reference:

Wikipedia, 2025

NO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (A.I.) HAS BEEN USED (NOR EVER WILL BE)  IN THE PREPARATION OF MY BLOG POSTS.

HOLLYHOCKS: AN UNFORGETABLE PLANT WITH BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 

They have big flowers (the ones I photographed can be up to 5 inches in diameter). The ones illustrated herein belong to genus Alcea, but there are reportedly many other "genera" and, at least, 80 or so species in this genus. Hollyhocks are apparently native to Europe and Asia. The single species found in the Americas is invasive and belongs to a different genus. I could not find any papers dealing with the details of the fossil record of hollyhocks. It is likely that Alcea [in the broad sense] originated during the Pleistocene.

Hollyhocks can be tall plants. The tallest plant I photographed (Figure 1 and Figure 4) is 11.6 feet tall (I measured it with a tape measure when the plant finally stopped growing vertically and started to dry up during the first week of July). Then in late July and even into early August, it produced a few new blooms (near the middle of the plant and at its former top).

[note: In the published literature (both written and electronic), hollyhocks are reported as having a maximum height of only 8 feet.]

Kingdom Plantae

Order Malvales

Family Malvaceae

Genus Alcea [the main genus)

Type Species: rosea

This flower is biennial or perennial, meaning they can “come back” every year. They are also self-seeders. In their first year, they grow a rosette of flowers. In the second year, they regrow and flower. They are pollinated by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Hollyhocks are easy to grow. They like the sun and well-drained soil. The upper part of some hollyhock plants can (but not always) lean or bend over. 

Like nearly every other species of flower, hollyhock flowers have wide range of colors, from white to red, pink, yellow, or orange.

Figure 1. Closeup of a red hollyhock flower.

Figure 2. Closeups of two other red flowers.

Figure 3. Closeup of a pink hollyhock.

Figure 4. Tallest individual plant of hollyhock (11.6 feet tall) that I have seen.