Spot the Frippet: something rufescent.

Are you a scientist or a poet?

Not sure?

Well, can you spot a rufescent sexual reproductive structure of a subfamily Rosoideae angiosperm? 

If you can, or want to, then you're a scientist.

It will look quite like this:



If, on the other hand, when you see it you're only aware of spotting a blushing rose, then there's a brimming well of poetry in you.

(The photograph is of the lovely rose called Maiden's Blush, and was taken by Nadiatalent.)

Anyway, rufescent. It's basically a botanical term that means tinged with red or becoming red:


(these are the fruit of Ilex mitis, the Cape Holly Tree. Photo by Abu Shawka).



This is a rufescent prinea, photo by Ariefrahman. That's not an easy spot unless you're in the right part of India or South East Asia, but never mind: a human cheek reddened with exercise, fever, cold, heat, alcohol or embarrassment is quite rufescent enough for me.

Spot the Frippet: something rūfescent. This word comes from the Latin rufescere, to grow reddish, from rūfus, red or auburn.