Texas’ Unusually Cold Temperatures Have Had A Unique And Rare Side Effect
This winter has been an unusual one for us Texans, that’s for sure. Snow and/or ice on three separate occasions within a few weeks of each other would be a sigh of relief for Northerners, but we’re not used to this kind of weather down here – and neither is our environment. An interesting plant called “frostweed” has been spotted throughout the state recently, and it looks stranger than anything you’ve ever seen. Check it out:
The plant draws underground moisture up through its roots and expels it near the bottom of the stalk in the form of ice ribbons.
Those ribbons can either create tight curls (as shown here) or take more irregular shapes if new crystals form and push the older ones away from the stalk.
The frost often disappears by morning, so you'll either have to be an extreme night owl or super early bird to catch a glimpse of them - but it's totally worth it!
During warmer months, the frostweed plant itself is a great source of nectar for pollinating creatures, namely monarch butterflies. Residents are highly encouraged to plant frostweed in order to help the insects as they migrate south for winter.
So, what immediately comes to mind when you see this interesting plant? Cotton candy? Or what about a scroll of parchment paper? Tell us your thoughts!
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
