Quadripartite

I love seedpods & tend to pick up a few whenever I take walks in Autumn. They can have amazingly complex & fascinating interior structures (though I've never yet found one that contained quadruplets as this curiotype does).

I also have a serious thing for cross-sections & cutaways. It's so much fun to get to peek inside something & see how it all works. Peacay of Bibliodyssey has posted some beauties & I was filled with absolute giddy glee when I first saw the "Let me tell you about my boat" scene from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. {Sorry this is such a lo-res copy-- if you know of a better link please let me know.}

And have you seen this wonderful animated version of "Man as Industrial Palace" by Fritz Kahn?

Oh yes, back to the curiotype. It's Photoshop with text from Gray's Introduction to Structural & Systemic Botany, 1876

Perfoliate

Is it an animal disguised as a plant? An oddment disguised as a "P"? Or a curiotype disguised as an entry for this week's IF?

Photoshop with text from Gray's Introduction to Structural & Systemic Botany, 1876

Ocellated

Eyespots make an excellent disguise, whether for confusing predators or providing camouflage. All sorts of creatures wear them: fish, moths, peacocks, curiotypes. (Did you know that the ocelot is named after its eyespots?) And as a special bonus, they even look like "O"s!

Photoshop with text from The Practical Standard Dictionary, 1943.

I'm hearing about a lot of power outages in our area from Hurricane Irene-- so far we've lucked out, but if I don't respond or post for a while, you'll know why!

Nunatak

N points to the frozen North, which is well out of my comfort zone, both physically & artistically! But I felt I'd been neglecting geology with my Curiotype words & besides, Nunatak is fun to say.

Photoshop with text from The Practical Standard Dictionary, 1943.

p.s. Speaking of fun-sounding words, an old family favorite: http://www.wepsite.de/bulbous%20bouffant.mp3

Muricate

M marks the midpoint in the Curiotype alphabet!

Apologies for the late post-- I had two deadlines today that had to be done first, & boy do all those points take time to draw!

Photoshop with text from good ol' Gray's Introduction to Structural & Systemic Botany, 1876

Labiate

A sea creature influenced by lippy flowers may seem odd, but I ask you, is it (or anything) really any odder than the Sarcastic Fringehead!?

(Thanks to comic creator/arcane animal sleuth Isaac for introducing me to that one!)

This Curiotype is brought to you by the letter L.

Photoshop with text from Gray's Introduction to Structural & Systemic Botany, 1876

Kinesthesia

Gone are the days when the average gnome was content to spend his golden years happily puttering about the garden. Today's modern senior gnome stays buff in the gym, diligently swelling his biceps instead of his belly.

Curiotype K, Photoshop with text from Websters New Collegiate Dictionary 1949

p.s. I know this is a little late for "Swell" but better late than never, I hope.

Julaceous

Ever since I first encountered pussy willows as a little girl I've had a soft spot for catkins. This particular (Curiotypical) species appears indecisive until one examines its terminal floret.

(Click if you dare.)

Photoshop with text from Gray's Introduction to Structural & Systemic Botany, 1876

Irruption!

Invasion of the Oddments!! When the population of a single species in a given area suddenly swells, it can pose problems for other less populous species. For instance, in my house we are now experiencing an irruption of fruit flies (due, no doubt, to the also-increasing numbers of peaches, figs & tomatoes populating the kitchen counter). These obnoxious beasties definitely have the local humans way outnumbered, & despite a distinct disadvantage in size (& one would hope, intelligence), the little guys are clearly winning. *Sigh*

This is Curiotype Number Nine. (Cue white album.) Photoshop with text from Webster's Dictionary, 1945.

Return of the Oddments: Helicoid!

My computer seems to be working fine now-- I've been scrambling to make up for lost work time. At last I'm back to my master plan for world oddment-ification! Another in the Curiotype series.

Photoshop, with text from Gray's Introduction to Structural & Systemic Botany, 1876

The Case of the Missing Oddment

Alas, my computer wasn't just crying wolf... it's completely out of commission at the moment. Oddments will be on hold until it's back in operation. Let's hope it's soon!

Geminate

As a mother of twins, I'm particularly fond of this Curiotype.

Photoshop on text from an old dictionary.

p.s. My computer is acting up lately, so if I miss an oddment, you'll know why. :-O Wish me luck!

Filoplume

I don't think the back of the head is quite the usual placement for a filoplume, but this feather does possess a slender, hairlike shaft & few barbs, & since it's growing on an oddment, I get to put it wherever I like! :-P

Photoshop with text from Hegner's College Zoology, 1920.

Ecdysis

When I was looking for text to incorporate into the background of this Curiotype, I was startled to find a related term coined by H. L. Mencken: apparently an ecdysiast is a stripper! I'd never heard that one, but it's certainly apropos. There's even something about the lacy transparency of a snakeskin that resembles diaphanous lingerie... with an inside-out head attached... now that would make for an interesting ensemble.

Photoshop with text from The Practical Standard Dictionary, 1943.

Edit: I'm being a bit slithery & counting this as this week's entry for Ben Towle's Animal Alphabet-- after all, S is for Skin-Shedding Snake-- just pretend you don't see that E. ;-)

Dimorphous Dance

Vive la Différence!

Photoshop with text from an old dictionary.

Curiotype No. 4