Beautifully Vicious
Legend has it that the crown of thorns
placed upon Jesus’ head
was twisted from the stems of this plant.
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 27:27-31 [NIV]
Of course, I have no confirmation of that legend. It could just be a marketing ploy.
Lovely macro shot. I would not want to handle that. Those thorns look treacherous!
Gel — trust me, I didn’t touch it!
I know that plant, we had them at home when I was a kid. Love the picture!
Counting the days quilly, I’m having a blast!! You would NOT believe how much fun we’re having!!
Jientje — I am sure that everything with Melli is a blast. She just has that effect on the world. I can’t wait to see photos — get to blogging!
One beautiful flower and a trecherous branch holding it! I bet the kids don’t steal many!
Lew — yeah, I bet those don’t end up in vases on the dining room table!
We have these plants here too. They are among the few that survive our very dry winters without water. You picture is stunning! I love it!
Betty, thanks — I had a heck of a time getting the flowers and the thorns to focus crisply!
I had to get this plant for my Mother one year because she remembered it as part of an Easter celebration when she was a child.
Flash 55 – Morbid Norberth
Nessa — I am surprised it is not part of more Christmas celebrations, but Poinsettias are much less visually disturbing and some folks only go to church for the “feel good” so this plant wouldn’t sit well with them.
Was it at Foster Gardens?
I find the comments (indicating this plant is world-wide) almost as interesting as the post in this case! Who knew such a wicked looking stalk could travel so well!
Yes, Foster Gardens, and according to Wikipedia, the plant originated in Madagascar.
Thanks for the reminder about the love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ who died for our sins.
I have never seen this flower in the these parts. The bloom is beautiful. The thorns must be it’s defense mechanism!
Church Lady — I plan to do a bit of reminding just a little more often, I think. And in your part of the country, this would likely have to be an indoor, potted plant, and who wants something that vicious inside?
How strange for such a beautiful and interesting flower to be on such a scary stem.
Barbara — there are many such strange things in nature.
Owie!
Doug — yeah! It is good these weren’t around when I was living, “The Grownups Wanted Us Dead” or my stories about crashing my bike into sticker bushes would have ended very differently.
Whether is was this plant or another one, after they put the crown on His head they beat Him on the head, driving the thorns in. I’m so thankful He took my punishment, though I deserve it and He did not.
Dimple — the pounding the crown onto his head is, I think, even more cruel then the beating, primarily because the beating was standard measure and the rest was simply for their own entertainment.
Wow. Even if it wasn’t this exact plant, that is still a powerful visual.
Linda — that’s what I thought when I read about the legend and realized I had a photo of the plant in my archives.
So pretty, and so painful.
Yikes.
I know some people like that.
Susan — aye. Don’t we all?
More about the plant from Amoeba. Crown of Thorns.
And thanks to Amoeba — I’ve often read about “spurge” but didn’t connect it with anything I understood. Now I have a visual to go with it so thanks, both of you!
If I photograph the bark on the tree outside my window will Amoeba be able to ID’ it? No one I’ve asked knows what it is. It is really cool bark and the tree never flowers. The cardinals LOVE hanging around in it…and whatever it is grows well in Northern Virginia.
Kelley — To identify your tree Amoeba will need the bark, the leaf, the fruit and/or flower. So many things look alike that it takes all the different components to identify it. So, a shot of the entire tree and a close up of the rest should do it.
what a beautiful specimen, and an outstanding photo!
the plant is well known here, too, along with the legend
Polona — I had never previously heard the legend. The only legend I knew connected to this particular flower was that a frequently robbed bank in Waianae planted these under the window to stop people from bashing the glass with bricks and climbing in to rob them. After the new landscaping went in the window was bashed with a stolen car …..
Lovely Quilly!
Thank you, Carletta!
It is so lovely macro shot, I love the pretty red color.
Wow another amazing shot great color beautiful background, just beautiful!