Left Hand Corner: Curiosity

According to the old saying, curiosity killed the cat. Curiosity might be bad for cats but it is good for humans. Curiosity leads to questions, which lead to answers and new knowledge. What if Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, etc., etc., etc. were never curious? For that matter, what if our very early ancestors never wondered what was that hot spot started by lightning, or what was over the next hill?

I guess that I am naturally curious, but I also try to cultivate it. If I see something unusual, I try to determine what it is, either by research (the internet is great for this) or by experimentation. Most of the time this only leads to some personal enlightenment, or even a failed experiment. But a few times this has led to a genuine discovery.

The thing that prompted me to think about curiosity and write this editorial was an unusual flower seen in my wife’s flower garden. The accompanying photo shows a bearded iris. Please take a moment and study the picture before reading on. Does everyone see what is wrong with it?

-Photo by Ray Showman

Iris are genetically programmed to have three-part flowers – three sepals, three petals and three pistils. Why does this one have four of each? I consulted a horticultural expert and he hypothesized that this could have been caused by an injury (insect or perhaps freezing) to the very young developing flower bud. Maybe not a definitive answer, but the best I have found so far.

I think folks in OMLA are already curious, or they wouldn’t be in the organization. But try to enhance it and pass it on to other people, especially kids just starting to be aware of nature. Lichens and mosses are wonderful organisms and well deserving of curiosity. Who knows what new discoveries might result?

-Ray Showman