A rare sight
hidden bugloss
christened white
~~
Pure white blooms
in tangle of greens
stamens reaching
~~
The other day I was surprised to discover rare white viper’s bugloss flowers. The second photo shows the most prevalent bugloss in its distinctive blue nearby.
Bees love bugloss blue
snakes do not–they say
it’s a remedy
for their venom, still
Viper’s bugloss could
be their cousin—look
how its red stamens
flicker and feel the
bristle-sting of its
round thick stem and the
leaves, rough and pointed
like long sharp teeth or
oxen tongue. It’s a
witch’s sword in a
taut-rooted rosette
ready to brandish
penta-herb magic.
∼
‘Bugloss’ has Greek origins meaning ox’s tongue. The flowers have five petals, five sepals and five stamens.
©2017 Ontheland
Ontheland 