Out on the Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula, California, a cluster of bright, neatly rounded golden flower heads emerges from a mat of succulent plants in the sand. Known as a Yellow Sand Verbena, it employs a special psycho-whammy defense mechanism against herbivores -- the psammophory method, whereby the plant attracts sand around its body so it would become a crunchy difficult mess if it is eaten.

10.10.19