Physostegia virginiana arenaria PRAIRIE OBEDIENT PLANT

This plant, Physostegia virginiana arenaria PRAIRIE OBEDIENT PLANT, is unusual because you can push the flowers to a new position and the flowers will stay there, at least for a good while (hence the common name). Because the flower is bladder shaped, roughly like skin bladders used to carry wine in Roman times, its genus name is physostegia (bladder covering), its epithet is virgianiana since this species was found in Virginia originally, and the third name is arenaria because it grows in drier, well-drained (sand-like) soil. 

The image to your right is a top view looking down on a bloom spike just as two flowers are opening. The other purple 'bumps' are flower buds which will open in due course. This is one of the species that will be featured in my second book: Elusive Splendor: Wildflowers of the Tall Grass Prairie.

I've received another rejection letter concerning publication of my first book, Abundant Splendor: Wildflowers of the Tall Grass Prairie. That makes the 32nd rejection of my work. "While it seems like very interesting work, it is not quite right for our current list." They've essentially said, 'you're not bad, just not our type.' And life goes on.