Fructus Reborn

I don't usually like to show older pieces here, but with Mother's Day & IF's "kernel" prompt coinciding, this oddment insisted it belonged here, & it just wouldn't shut up! So I spoke with the crazy lady who makes the rules for this blog & she said I could do it just this once.
;-) I've actually made some (slight) changes to the piece since I last posted it on Curious Art, so it isn't 100% old, anyway. Can you spot the tweaks?

Acrylic on text & illustrations (from 19th c. botanical textbooks) on canvas, 6"x6"
2008

Happy Mother's Day, everyone! And happy kernel week too!

Alien Species

Further fauna-flora for you-know-what!

Oakling

I live in Raleigh, NC, USA, a.k.a. Oak City. At this time of year, our lawns, streets & sidewalks are scattered with vast herds of these zoorobotanical beasties. Please watch your step if you come to visit!

Her Odd Materials No. 15: Acrylic, brass wire & rusty tacks on acorn. 

Zoophyte

An undersea slacker of sorts, this curiotype need not stir from his seat to hunt for dinner. Rather, he lures passing prey with mesmerizing undulations of his graceful faux-fronds, then "welcomes little fishes in with gently smiling jaws."

To be honest, "zoophyte" was already becoming obsolete as a term of scientific classification when the background text was published in 1906, but I ask you, how could I resist ending the alphabet with a botano-beastie?

Photoshop with text from Chambers's Encyclopaedia, 1906.

Xerophilous

I'm quite fond of cacti, but I wouldn't want this prickly curiotype as a pet-- imagine how it would feel to have him brush up against your legs!

Photoshop with text from Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1949

Urceolate

Contained within the urceolate boundaries of this curiotype is an unexpected oddment! He lives a dreamy, meditative life, hidden away in a flower similar to this one. I only discovered him very recently, when the specimen happened to be turned upside down.

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

Totally Tubulose

Is it a fallen flower? A long-leggity oddment doing the backstroke? Or something completely different?

All I know for sure is that it's a curiotype.

Photoshop with text from The Practical Standard Dictionary.

Strombuliferous

This curiotype is a speedy, springy fellow who can cover quite a distance in a single bound, utterly unlike the snail with which he is sometimes confused.

Full disclosure: I found after I'd started this that the term strombuliferous is somewhat archaic. So fling it around in everyday conversation at your own risk. ;-)

Radiciform

Continuing the cross-section theme: this devious fellow snuggles quietly down into the loam & remains perfectly still until a root borer happens along-- then suddenly snaps to life & gobbles him up!

Mysterious are the ways of nature. If you think such extreme camouflage is unlikely, take a look at this real-life amazingness.

Also, mysterious are the ways of Google. An image search for radiciform turns up the most peculiarly random assortment of stuff. ?????

Edit: I must say this IF prompt has brought out some of the coolest entries I've seen in a while! Definitely worth perusing if you haven't already.

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

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

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

Claviculate

Another of my obsessions: tendrils! How handy that "C" was up next in my Curiotype series.

Photoshop with text from an old dictionary.

Speed Garden

(...and speed oddment too... this has been a busy day, sorry for the late post!)

This oddment is from an old sketchbook, with Photoshopical additions. The gardener may look a bit odd, but really it's the garden itself that is unusual. I suppose I must have been feeling impatient with my own garden when I drew this.

(This is my second oddment for IF this week; the first is Perennial Curiosity.)

NEWS FLASH! Tuesday 26 July: Oddments & Curiosities is featured on Noah Scalin's Make Something 365 blog! I'm so excited! Noah is one of the most creative & inspiring bloggers around. If any of you don't know about his Skull-A-Day blog, you should head right over there & have your mind thoroughly blown by his original year of daily skulls. He is also the author of 365: A Daily Creativity Journal, a great resource for anyone pursuing a daily (or odd-daily) project. (See store links on the 365 site.)

Perennial Curiosity

I loved the quotation in this week's IF prompt:

“A good scientist is a person in whom the childhood quality of perennial curiosity lingers on. Once he gets an answer, he has other questions.” ~ Frederick Seitz

I think artists tend to be the same way, don't you?

This curious specimen grew out of the painting I'm working on (with a few changes).

Photoshop, text & acrylic textures. Please click to see details.