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Emily VelascoMLE_online
Apr 19, 2026, 4:36 AM
When I was young, my family went to church, but I hated church. Once I was old enough to start going to the high school ministry, I started ditching church as soon as I was out of sight of my parents. I would usually go on walks and explore the area.
There was an overgrown area with heavy brush behind the church, and one time, my wanderings took me in there.
I ended up finding my way into a small dell and a clearing. In there was an unusual plant covered with translucent silver discs.
I had never seen a plant like that before.
Coming upon that plant hidden away like that is one of the few times I've ever had an experience that felt mystical.
(The plant is called lunaria annual, and it's related to broccoli.)
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Replies

loptalopta@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 4:40 AM
@MLE_online We used those as play money when we were children. :-)
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Geoff 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿_thegeoff@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 7:32 PM
@lopta @MLE_online Ditto! And the local name is "Honesty", don't know if it's related.
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loptalopta@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 8:20 PM
@_thegeoff @MLE_online That's the one!
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kferrandkferrand@mastodon.nz
Apr 19, 2026, 4:50 AM
@MLE_online
Had those in our garden when I was a kid here in New Zealand..how it got there I have no idea.
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Nicknyates314@mstdn.social
Apr 19, 2026, 4:51 AM
@MLE_online That looks like what I grew up calling silver dollars. Didn't know it was related to broccoli though! :-)
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mathewmathew@universeodon.com
Apr 20, 2026, 2:19 AM
@nyates314 @MLE_online Lots of things are related to broccoli!
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Heather Evansfeather1952@aus.social
Apr 19, 2026, 5:05 AM
@MLE_online
Also known as Honesty or Annual Honesty. The discs hold their seeds.
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Emily VelascoMLE_online
Apr 19, 2026, 5:07 AM
@feather1952 yea, it's an unusual name. I think around here, anyone except people who are into gardening would call it a money plant
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Heather Evansfeather1952@aus.social
Apr 19, 2026, 5:09 AM
@MLE_online
I have heard it called that as well.
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Dougdoug@union.place
Apr 19, 2026, 7:43 PM
@MLE_online took me scrolling this far to find what we called it 😄 my mum usually told us the real name too, but i've no memory of that. Just money.
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Arratoonarratoon@beige.party
Apr 19, 2026, 5:06 AM
@MLE_online In the UK it’s known as honesty. It grew in my grandparents’ garden when I was little. It was fun peeling apart the dried ‘paper’ to release the seed.
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Jean-Baptiste "JBQ" Quérujbqueru@floss.social
Apr 19, 2026, 5:32 AM
@MLE_online Its French nickname is "monnaie du pape", which means "the Pope's currency" or "the Pope's change" (the latter still in the sense of currency).
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Cassidy Curtisotherthings@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 5:54 AM
@MLE_online I can see the resemblance — those translucent discs look a lot like the membranes in the middle of broccoli seed pods (same material, different shape!) https://flic.kr/p/2kVVvyh https://flic.kr/p/2kW11bm
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Cassidy Curtisotherthings@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 6:04 AM
@MLE_online What’s cool about broccoli pods is that as they dry out, the outer shells shrink and harden, creating increasing tension against that inner membrane. Once the pod is dry enough, the tension gets so intense that the merest touch will make it fly apart like a grenade, scattering seeds everywhere. It’s an incredible propagation system!
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Emily VelascoMLE_online
Apr 19, 2026, 1:45 PM
@otherthings my feral bok choy has thousands of those right now and is most certainly getting its seeds all over the yard at the moment
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Cassidy Curtisotherthings@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 2:47 PM
@MLE_online All Crops Are Brassicas
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Panni Skultetyskulesz@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 6:10 AM
@MLE_online broccoli is a member of the cabbage family. Just like cauliflower, kohlrabi, and of course all types of cabbages.
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Emily VelascoMLE_online
Apr 19, 2026, 1:43 PM
@skulesz i know
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посол золотої ордиcodkelden@mstdn.social
Apr 19, 2026, 6:21 AM
@MLE_online I have seen it once in my life by old quarry. It amazes me so much. Thank you for this post!
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ripolochonripolochon@framapiaf.org
Apr 19, 2026, 6:25 AM
@MLE_online
Related to your church experience, this plant is called in French monnaie du pape, pope's money.
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John Honniballanachrocomputer@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 11:09 AM
@MLE_online Seeing that seedpod reminded my of my parents' garden in Colchester. We called it honesty, and now I need to find a packet of seeds!
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Justine Smithiesjustine@snac.smithies.me.uk
Apr 19, 2026, 11:16 AM
That's a blast from the past ! I remember using those in primary school art.
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Dean SegovisHackAWeek@mastodon.social
Apr 19, 2026, 12:26 PM
@MLE_online Nicely written story that conjures what you felt in my mind. I have memories of seemingly magical places I found in the woods where I grew up. Thanks for sharing that Emily. 😉
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Derò 🇨🇦Dero_10@mastodon.sdf.org
Apr 19, 2026, 12:59 PM
@MLE_online Flowering it has lovely purple flowers. In bloom in my yard currently.
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Martin Gleadowmgleadow@mastodon.green
Apr 19, 2026, 7:26 PM
@MLE_online the dried stems complete with the inner silvery discs are great for a year round dried flower arrangement
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Deep Muddeepmud@mas.to
Apr 19, 2026, 7:28 PM
@MLE_online there are several beautiful forms of this plant. I favor the one that variegates beautifully in its second year. But there's also one with purple foliage, and a white flowered form, too.
This plant is one I recommend for dry shade. It's a real tough easy plant that is beautiful all along the way!
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Alexander KnochelQuantensalat@scicomm.xyz
Apr 19, 2026, 7:43 PM
@MLE_online Saw this near a river bed in the hills a few months ago, seems to be a different species though
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