A succulent plant with summer halo--light bulb

As mentioned in the second article today, it is extremely difficult to raise more meat in summer. Then, is there any meat with its own summer halo? There are, like... light bulbs.

don't laugh, it's a plant name. It looks like this:

A light bulb. Photo by fish bird / flickr

The bulb you see is a leaf.

Light bulb, scientific name is Conophytum burgeri, a perennial succulent plant belonging to the genus Conanaceae. The bulbs are native to the meaty stronghold of Namaqualand, South Africa, but they are narrow and limited in distribution, and can only be found in a small area near the mine in Agnes Town, North Cape Province, on the Burger family farm, where the seed word burgeri comes from. Because light bulbs look like little onions, they have nicknames like Burger's onion. Next time you see them, don't think you're talking about a vegetable.

Aggeneys is a mining town located in the northwest corner of South Africa. Photo: our-africa.org

What you see in the bulb is not the stem, not the fruit, but the abnormal leaf. Bulb plant almost stemless, leaves highly fleshy, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, forming a rounded apex, beautifully soft cone, like a hill on the side. The bulb's pale green leaves were bright and shiny in the sunlight, and crystal cracks could be seen on them. Under the conditions of large temperature difference and strong sunshine, the fresh green leaves will be replaced with pink red coats. At this time, the bulbs are the most cute, like a living ruby, which is very attractive.

Light bulbs are actually leaves. Photo: picssr.com

Quietly ask the holy monk, is the light bulb beautiful? Photo by Miyatake30 / Flickr

The opposite leaves of the bulb are almost completely fused together, except for a slight depression at the apex of the cone. In autumn, flower buds can be observed inside the leaves, and when the time is ripe, the thin film at the top of the cone will be opened and the head will stick out.

Most of the petals of the bulb were slender and silky. From the base to the top, there was a gradual change from white to purple, like the "filament" protruding from the bulb, and like the gorgeous fireworks blooming. However, their flowers generally open during the day and close at night, so you have to pick the time to enjoy them.

A little flowering bulb. Image: World of Succulents

Fuji Remnant Snow, Dormancy and Regeneration of Light Bulbs

Dormancy bulb, like a deflated onion? Photo by Paul / Flickr

To the growing season, kraft paper-like old leaves will gradually peel off, which is called "peeling." Not yet shed clean old skin, hanging on it, I feel a kind of "Fuji residual snow" of the sense of silence.

A group of light bulbs that have not yet completely removed the "veil", if the literary youth interprets it, its paper skin is like a layer of first snow, covering the continuous hills; for foodies, the half-skinned light bulbs are like pudding sprinkled with a layer of icing, waiting for you to uncover and taste these delicious and moving good bodies. Photo by Dave's Garden

After peeling is complete, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that your own small light bulb is a circle larger than the original. At this time, if you can slowly increase the water supply, after a period of time, the bulb will return to its crystal clear handsome appearance. Light bulbs have low water requirements, and excessive water supply during growth causes mesophyll tissue to swell, causing the leaf epidermis to rupture, leaving ugly scars and possible decay.

Excessive water supply can cause the bulb blade skin to crack. Photo by oribinu / flickr

Light bulbs are not easy to survive

Light bulbs grow slowly, and three-year seedlings are only the size of fingernails, but as long as they persist (if they don't hang up), they are said to grow to the size of an egg. Unlike other cones, bulbs do not generally form swarms easily, so vegetative reproduction is not easy and generally relies on seed collection for seeding.

Don't look at the delicate light bulbs, they feel that they grew up in excellent conditions, in fact, their living conditions can be poor. The bulb's habitat was a barren and desolate plain of quartz gravel, with white crystals and red ochre clay everywhere, and the sun was hot and the rain was dry, which was a purgatory for ordinary plants. Fortunately, the fleshy leaves of the bulbs store abundant water and grow close to the ground. Most of them are buried in clay, leaving only a small part exposed for photosynthesis, which makes them able to withstand extreme weather. At the same time, the quartz stone on the ground also reflects some sunlight, providing a cooler shelter for the bulbs.

See the light bulb in the picture? There's two of them. Photo: cactuspro.com

In addition to natural challenges, light bulbs face man-made threats. Due to mining destruction and cultivated land reclamation, the living space of light bulbs has become more and more severe; in addition, the special shape and sprouting attributes make the horticultural community "love" it, which directly leads to a period of rampant theft and smuggling; coupled with the natural environment, light bulbs grow extremely fast, reproduction and renewal are very slow, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of light bulbs. Currently wild bulbs are listed as endangered species in South Africa and are under strict protection.

Ruby light bulb, fried chicken cute. Photo by Nabeya / Flickr

At present, the bulbs sold on the market are basically purchased from some qualified horticultural companies abroad, planted and bred in China, and then put on the market. Due to the scarcity of quantity and difficulty in maintenance, the price of bulbs has remained high. In any case, this move can solve the needs of enthusiasts to a certain extent, while also easing the pressure of origin protection. I would like to appeal to all meat lovers not to buy protected succulent plants from the country of origin.

Sometimes I wonder if it's a lotus mist. Photo: seonin.com

Note: even light bulbs, extreme heat is unbearable! Is there any meaty summer safety card for your family?

Next Thursday, the author of this article @ Attack Meaty will answer for you in the Salon on the Species Calendar Line! Long press the QR code below to sign up immediately to grab the interactive seat.