Malia's mystery solved
A while back my niece brought to my attention a seed pod she had found in a tree in her yard. It's pretty funky looking (see link below).
Just for fun, I asked readers to guess what it is.
Joe Connell, UC Davis farm adviser, said it is indeed a seed pod from the Southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora..
(Note here, the center of the flower of the Southern Magnolia is the seed pod).
Joe wrote: "The intricate pattern at the base is composed of scars where the flower parts were attached. It's great to have nieces who are inquisitive about the world around them."
Kudos to the readers who sent in the correct responses, and to my friend Syl who couldn't help but write and brag that she lives in Hawaii and sees intriguing plants all the time.
