29 Apr 2013

A - Z Challenge - Y



The reflection of British wildflowers in emotions.
-------------------
Yellow Rattle. Youthful.

This plant is unusual in that it is partially parasitic on other plants. The Yellow Rattles' roots withdraw sustenance from their neighbors. Rhinanthus Minor grows in wet meadows and mashes. The hooded flowers are born in the axils of the upper leaves Brown sepals are fused together to form an inflated tube of yellow petals. The common name comes because the plant rattles in the wind when mature and dry.

Half the world's population is under twenty five years. A youthful population allows a country to build an educated and civilized community, provides a growing market for manufactured products and provides a large tax base to support the aging population. However, a youthful population strains education and health-care services, and may limit the number of jobs in the future. When rural areas are no longer able to support the people living there, urban areas will be undated with extra population, leading to shanty-towns in places with a growing youthful population like Brazil, China, Gambia, and India.


Proverb: Youth is wasted on the young.

7 comments:

  1. Love that proverb - it's so true.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mine was youth too :) Just stopping by for the A-Z Challenge. Please check us out and sign up to follow if you like what you see. Juliet atCity Muse Country Muse

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post Francene thank you, as always plants interwoven with wisdom. It is a scary though about the burgeoning youth straining various services.. Perhaps in this day and age of innovation, we'll manage? Let's hope so ..
    Oscar Wilde said about youth being wasted on the young.
    Susan Scott's Soul Stuff

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks so much for stopping by my site! Delighted to return the favor, and what wonderful posts you've been writing--I love flowers and plants, and also especially liked what you wrote about Joan of Arc and her visions.

    ~MPL
    http://pepperwords.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. If only I could know what I know and have my youth back :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I want to hear the yellow rattle - it would sound like a rattle snake here in the texas wind. Indeed - the best youth time for me was 28 and I should have taken advantage of so much - the right combo of health and money and no real responsibilities. It is scary to think of all the youth teeming in areas of poverty. Your posts offer such contrasts and thoughts to provoke.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Francene .. I too love the proverb. Interesting notes on youth and the future - sadly so true .. the world is heading out - where we end up who knows ..

    I love the rattle and its connotations .. these wildflower postings have been great fun to read and learn from .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete

Please tell me what YOU think.