This is the third of three posts that concern the story I am writing for my book. If you want to follow it, go back and read Murder at the Monument (1) and (2). Thanks!
In the late spring, the ivory blossoms of the Soaptree yucca decorate the Chihuahuan Desert floor in a mixed-media show of cream and wax. Up and out of the plant’s core emerges a tall stalk, sometimes 10-18 feet high, and hanging in feminine bells, the flowers boast of the handiwork of the Pronuba moth.
A perfect functional relationship, the plant and the insect.
The moth moves from bell to bell, collecting pollen. When she lights on the flower’s ovary, she lays her eggs and as a courtesy to the yucca, leaves pollen on the flower’s stigma as a thank-you note.
Her children will hatch, feed on the seeds and flowers, and tumble into the sand for a long winter’s nap. When they awake, they too, will provide their host with life.
In symbiotic splendor, the moth and the cactus use each other for survival.
Without one the other will die.
And what is our yucca? Sadly, there is none.
A lovely and evocative word picture.
Douglas, I am wondering why your name above isn’t a hyperlink to your blog.
We as humans can develop unhealthy co-dependency, right?
The moth and the yucca are in a co-evolutionary relationship that, obviously
, works toward species survival.
We are ultimately alone. I find that thought empowering and mysterious.
Caroline: Welcome to the blog.
The hyperlink isn’t there because I didn’t fillout the website info, I guess. This time it was filled in so maybe it will work. To the point,… we are parasites. We are outside the foodchain, no species is truly dependent upon our existence, we contribute nothing to nature. That is the essence of why we have no “yucca”. In some ways it saddens me. Of course, that is only my opinion.