If you have ever seen these seeds up close before, you will recognize them right away.
The surface is loaded with pits or dimples.
Any idea what plant produces these dimpled seeds? Be sure to leave a comment if you have an idea.
Please don’t be embarrassed if your guess isn’t correct. It is very difficult to tell from a close-up photograph with no scale. I appreciate guesses because it gives me ideas for future posts 🙂
Edit:Â The answer is now posted.
Our mystery fruit/seeds from last week were from a yellow oleander, Thevetia peruviana.
Yellow oleander is named for its bright yellow flowers (although some varieties have light orange flowers).
Yellow oleander is originally from tropical regions of Central and South America, but now is grown throughout the world. Being tropical, it is quite frost sensitive. Here in the Sonoran Desert it is often used in landscapes next to houses or walls, which radiate heat. It is grown as a tall shrub or small tree.
The trees are evergreen and flower over an extended period.
The down side to these plant is that yellow oleanders are toxic. All parts are poisonous if eaten, and the sap can irritate the skin in sensitive people.
Even the seeds within these oddly-shaped seed capsules are poisonous.
The seed capsules are hard and have a raised area or ridge that is often apparent even when they are fresh and green.
Do yellow oleander grow where you live?
This weekend astronomy is in the news, with several events to spike a child’s interest.
Why is this rover newsworthy? Curiosity is bigger than the previous rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, and is landing in a more difficult location. It is also carrying a lot of more sophisticated equipment, including, believe it or not, ovens to bake soil and rock samples. Part of Curiosity’s mission is to look for carbon, the element that is an important building block for living things. If all goes well, it could be exploring and sending back data for a couple of years.
See live reports of the Mars Rover landing tomorrow night at the Jet Propulsion Lab
NASA also has information and updates
If your children are excited about Mars and the rovers, there are several wonderful children’s books to find out more:
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The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity (Scientists in the Field Series) by Elizabeth Rusch -released June 19, 2012
Middle-grade level |
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Cars on Mars: Roving the Red Planet by Alexandra Siy
Middle-grade level |
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You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien This picture book really stretches the definition of nonfiction, because it details an imaginary trip to Mars. The scientific details and photorealistic illustrations are what make it credible. |
They all seem to have Mars red covers.
Towards the middle of August will be an opportunity to view the annual Perseid meteor shower. Although it has already started, astronomers are predicting the nights of August 11, 12 and 13, 2012 will have the best viewing because that is when the brightness of the moon will interfere the least.
The Perseids are usually the easiest meteor shower to view because it is still warm out at night. No need for coats and heavy blankets.
Tips:
1. Try to find a place that is fully dark for best viewing. Porch and street lights can fade out the meteors, preventing sightings.
2. Remind your children there may be several minutes between sightings. In the wee hours of the morning it can be hard to be patient.
3. Blankets and lawn chairs that allow for viewing in a prone position help prevent neck strain.
Enjoy!
EarthSky has more viewing information
Tonight’s Sky has a longer video that reveals other stars and constellations to be on the look out for.
Two full moons in one month? Cool!
3. Hands-on Astronomy Activities
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) website has two Astronomy lessons with hands on activities
The lessons are over multiple pages that sometimes don’t have obvious links between, so check the sidebars and under the title of each page for the links to the next page. Let me know if you have difficulty navigating and I’ll add all the links here.
Let us know if you have any other favorite Astronomy websites.
For more information, see Roberta Gibson Writes.
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