English: Amsonia tabernaemontana: single, ripe, paired follicle (i.e. ‘V’ - shaped pair of follicles) detached from plant and with seeds removed from longitudinal slits in follicles and arranged beside them. Follicles, with their seeds, removed from a containerised specimen of the plant and placed on dark background (cover of a pocket diary) for ease of viewing.

Note curious shape of individual seeds, resembling tiny irregularly-sawn logs with rough, snuff-brown bark. These fit perfectly together within an individual follicle, like pieces in a (three-dimensional) jigsaw.

Re. the follicles themselves: this type of paired follicular fruit is found in many genera of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae.

Source of paired follicle a containerised specimen of the plant purchased from a plant nursery in the coastal town of Blyth in Northumberland, the most northerly county of England.

Amsonia spp. are herbaceous perennials of upright habit and have the common name of ‘bluestars’ . They are frequently grown as ornamental plants for their attractive flowers and the bright Autumn colours of their foliage.