Plant expert needed.

third person · Apr 21, 2010

A while back, while browsing good' ol' Wikipedia, I came across an article about a plant that had metallic barbs on either its leaves or stem. Or maybe both. The point is I can't remember what that plant was. Anyone able to help? I think they're badass and I'd like to get more info on them. Shame on me for not bookmarking back then.

Captcha · Apr 21, 2010

Several of the Eryngiums have a metallic sheen - they kind of look like spray-painted thistles.

hammerklavier · Apr 22, 2010

You want badass? Look up the honey locust, I once had one of those thorns go entirely through my shoe and foot.

stephenf · Apr 22, 2010

Metallic = resembles metal.In what way did barbs resemble metal,colour,hardness.Any other clues?Is there a reason you need to remember this plant? or will any plant do, that will fit a purpose?

third person · Apr 22, 2010

stephenf said:
Metallic = resembles metal.In what way did barbs resemble metal,colour,hardness.Any other clues?Is there a reason you need to remember this plant? or will any plant do, that will fit a purpose?

The barbs of the plant ARE metal. That's what I found so fascinating about it. Google doesn't help at all. UGHH.

Synonym · Apr 22, 2010

Perhaps someone was messing with good old Wiki. I've never heard of plant-life supporting metal, much less growing it.

Puma · Apr 22, 2010

I think something is incorrect somewhere. Plants do use and store some metals (some plants are even hyper metal accumulators), but plants do not sport barbs or thorns or parts made of metals. Could the article have said the plant had metallic barbs - meaning in appearance but written in a way to give an incorrect impression? Puma

stephenf · Apr 23, 2010

third person said:
The barbs of the plant ARE metal.

Arr yes,that is the wire plant,often found around army camps and cattle ranches.

third person · Apr 23, 2010

Telling you guys, I've seen photos of the damned leaves of this thing. I was a photographer and graphic artist before I gave those passions up for writing, so I know a "shop" when I see one. The leaves were covered in tiny metallic barbs.

stephenf · Apr 23, 2010

Well, I'm not a plant expert, but I do earn some of my money as a self employed gardener.So I can tell you, it's not a plant that is common in the gardens of southern England.Plants are interesting and some can be quite strange ,so I believe that a plant you describe may actual exist,but without a bit more information I can't guess what it is.

Captcha · Apr 23, 2010

?

(sorry if this doesn't work - I've never posted an image before)

CoLiamPet · Apr 23, 2010

Globe thistle? Also known as Blue Metallic Thistle Flower??

CatSlave · Apr 23, 2010

Blue metallic thistle flower ??

Captcha · Apr 23, 2010

Yeah - metallic, we've got covered.

Metal...I don't think so.

ChristineR · Apr 23, 2010

What about stinging nettles? Sometimes they are called "stinging metals."

Or how about silica? Apparently some nettles have large amounts of silica in their spines.

Paul · Apr 23, 2010

Scottish lettuce...

CoLiamPet · Apr 23, 2010

The thistles are referred to by a variety of names based on the species/coloring: Blue Glow Thistle; Blue Hobbit Thistle; Sea Holly Thistle; Globe Thistle... etc. Some folks refer to the Sea Holly as Blue Thistle Flowers. But I don't know that they contains any metals, that warrants more research...

GeorgeK · Apr 26, 2010

My guess as stated above is that wiki was wrong. It tends to be unreliable in my experience other than as a very very general tool. There are some animals that will concentrate metals into a barb, most notably a few types of scorpions but I've never heard of a plant that did it. If you find one (other than on wiki), please post it.

Shakesbear · Apr 26, 2010

third person can't you look up the wiki page in the History bit of your puter?

Cathy C · Apr 26, 2010

Could you perhaps be thinking of mesquite? It has a Janka hardness rating of 2345, making it one of the hardest woods on Earth. It's frequently referred to as "Texas ironwood" because the spines are hard as metal (but not actually metallic.) It'll go right through shoe soles, steel-belted radial tires and even bone and hooves. They're all over my property. Would be happy to send you a dozen or so to experiment with. LOL!

blacbird · Apr 26, 2010

Puma said:
I think something is incorrect somewhere. Plants do use and store some metals

Not quite. Some plants concentrate certain compounds of metals, but I don't know of any that actually contain or produce the actual elemental metal. Humans use a lot of metal compounds (notably iron-rich hemoglobin) in bodily processes. We need trace amounts of certain things like zinc, etc., but you don't get those through eating the metal itself. For any element to become available for metabolic processing it needs to be in a water-soluble form. This virtually always happens in the form of a metal salt compound.

caw

Plant expert needed.

third person

She blinded me--with magic!

Captcha

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night

stephenf

third person

She blinded me--with magic!

Synonym

Puma

Retired and loving it!

stephenf

third person

She blinded me--with magic!

stephenf

Captcha

CoLiamPet

CatSlave

Mah tale iz draggin.

Captcha

ChristineR

What happened?

Paul

CoLiamPet

GeorgeK

ever seeking

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

blacbird