Word of the Day
Sesquipedalian (adj., ses-quih-peh-DALE-ee-ann)
A long word, or someone that uses long words, or their writing, which is usually exhausting to read. Fight the disease, people. Fight it hard.
Gif of the Day
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Link of the Day
Flowers that bloom at night and disappear in the rain
The Echinopsis cactus is known for making beautiful flowers that are seen by no one. The cacti bloom at night, only for an hour or two. After that, the flowers wilt.
Fortunately for us, Echinopsis fan Greg Krehel has gotten good at telling when a cactus is about to bloom, taking it inside, and filming it overnight in his time-lapse setup. He's posted a video of the 2014 blooming season:
Another fascinating flower is the Diphellia grayi, or "Skeleton Flower." When it rains, the white petals on the rare flower turn completely clear, returning to their original color once they've dried (see both states in this image):
NatureFlowersCactiHidden beautiesRainTransparency