Hiding in the Poke Weed by Leeco
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Description
Nikon 7900 image.
I really have no idea what species this Grasshopper is but he sure has similar colors and textures as the berries on the plant where he has settled in. Grasshoppers look so man made with all their armor plating and articulated joints. They look like they were designed by Art Deco era craftsmen.
Information about the plant he has landed on, is a different matter. I do know a fair amount about it.
It is commonly called 'Poke Weed'. The official name is 'Phytolacca Americana'. It grows to 9 feet tall in a single season and has bright red stalks up to several inches in diameter. It puts out long racemes of white flowers and then green berries which turn almost black when ripe. The ripe berries can be mashed to obtain a red juice that was once used as ink and as a coloring agent for red wine. It will definitely stain your hands and cloths.
It grows wild in the eastern United States and is usually considered to be a weed, even by those who eat the young green leaves. Almost all parts of the plant are toxic to people but someone (long ago) figured out the leaves needed to be boiled at least twice with a complete change of water between boilings before they could be eaten safely. Not sure how or why someone was able to discover that, lol.
Poor rural farmers ate it frequently. As a child, when living with my grandparents, I had pan fried poke salad, scrambled eggs and and fried squirrel brains more than once as a breakfast meal.
In the late 60's, Elvis Presley had a song on the radio called "Polk Salad Annie" that was very popular, lol.
Thanks to those who take the time to comment.
Lee
Comments (21)
MrsLubner
I never thought about squirrel brain. My in-laws always had a nice squirrel stew going though with a bit of sauteed poke on the side. This grasshopper had a wonderful eye. I know that because you have taken a very detailed and clear shot. Excellent.
nongo
Squirrel brains???????? they can't be very big???? What happens when they say, you are what you eat???? Oh, the thought??!!! LOL!!!!!!!! Superb image of this grasshopper, which to me looks like some sort of prehistoric creature!!!!
TallPockets
Superb shot!!
Coppens
Well-hidden but spotted! Well captured!
BibbyBear
How on earth you managed to spot this guy Lee when he is so well camouflaged?? Amazing clarity and superb details - a must see at full size. Hugs. xx
yorkshire_pud
amazing image with superb clarity and detail!! Even learned something lol :O)
JeffG7BRJ
Fantastic image! beautiful clarity and detail, the colours blend so well with its background, your eyesight must be 20/20+ to spot this little gem. Every time I see one of these it reminds of the Quatermass movie of the sixties, it so looks like the aliens in that movie.
danob
An amazing Macro of this Grasshopper I would imagine the toxic chemicals would be a reason this hopper would munch on it to deter any predators from a tasty snack.. Looks a little bit like a Sage Grasshopper.. The Eastern Lubber however is the hopper most associated with eating this plant, but from the images I once took of it on holiday in Florida is nothing like yours! Nor as good!!
tizjezzme
Nice Macro Lee, beautiful shot.
bebert
difficult to see green on green LOL very good mavro !!
perspective
Way cool colours and comp! Love it
bpclarke
Love the eyes! Excellent capture. Bunny
Richardphotos
I had forgot that I ate poke salad as a child.that was a long time ago.excellent macro.they probably fed it to prisoners and if they died they went back to the drawing board!
LadyRembrandt
Great shot. Nice clarity. I enjoy the contrast in colors, very complimentary.
mamabobbijo
I love the variety of textures on each body part, amazing to see them.
RobyHermida
Great Capture..
Piliph
Splendid macro !
GiMi53
Grasshoppers become very popular on Rendo... and it's mainly because of great macrocapture like this one ! Congratulations, Lee for the selection of your image in LwitG (Last Week in the Gallery – week 32-2007 )
lizzibell
Great capture...
gradient
sweet macro of this armored beast! Congrats on being in the LWITG!
Starlift
A beautiful shot of natural camouflage!