Stars of the Marsh

  If you arise at dawn and make your way down to the pier, it is a common sight to see some pretty amazing blooms.  Saltmarsh Morning Glories abound in the brackish waters of the Bayou.  The brilliant purplish pink blooms are a good four inches across and have arrowhead shaped leaves.  While the blooms closely resemble all other morning glories, it is those leaves that distinguish one from the other. Most morning glories have heart shaped leaves while the Saltmarsh Morning Glory has arrowhead shaped leaves.  But it is not the leaves that caught my eye this morning.  When Mark pointed out a bloom that was right against the pier post, I was enthralled by the "star".  In the center of the bloom was a perfect five point star!  This star was created by the way the bud is whorled around during growth.  When the bud opens, it sort of swirls until the flower has fully bloomed.   Like all morning glories, the Saltmarsh Morning Glory is a tube blossom.  Although it appears to be one large petal, there are actually five united petals that unravel when the bloom opens.

  The star leads to the center point of the bloom.  The purplish pink coloring deepens as the throat of the bloom narrows.  The intense color contrasts drastically to the white center which draws bees, butterflies and hummingbirds in to collect nectar.  Critters seem to love the plant but many parts of it are toxic to humans.  It seems that the seeds present the largest danger.  

  So perhaps it is best that my beautiful "Stars of the Marsh" stay in the marsh.  Not that I have any plans on eating any seeds but it is best for folks to admire these from a distance, I suppose.  Although a lot of our garden plants have toxic parts to them, no one thinks twice of planting them.  Potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, azaleas, oleanders, irises and philodendrons are on the list of toxic plants.  Parts of each of these plants (and many more) are toxic to humans and pets! (Just so you will know, oleanders are the worst!  All parts of that plant are deadly!)  Wait now!  My Saltmarsh Morning Glory is not looking so bad, after all!  The Star of the Marsh....a beauty!  (Not a beast!)