Day 182: Of the many questions which have arisen during my career as a naturalist and amateur botanist, one resurfaces at this time of year and demands an answer I cannot give: What was Fritillaria meleagris thinking when it got dressed for the garden party? Its checkered gown is one of the most outlandish I've seen on a plant. What fluke of evolution, what survival strategy, what random mutation inspired its choice? Stripes on petals, particularly fine stripes at the heart of the flower, serve as "bee guides," directing pollinators to their work, likewise zonal colouration. Streaks and patches were originally the result of a mosaic virus in tulips, although most of the "broken" colours available today have been selectively bred to ensure the pattern. So why gingham, Fritillaria? There seems to be no advantage to dressing like Dorothy Gale, not from a botanical perspective. You intrigue me, little lily with your bold imagination and complete lack of fashion sense.
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