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Wild plants of KY: Ticklies are pretty, but value questioned 2016-08-29 - Byway of Adair County, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com (c). Their beauty is rarely challenged. Their worth often is. Some call them "ticklies." They're a member of the family of foxtail grasses, we think, but don't know the exact name for them. They've always just been called ticklies among our acquaintances, because little ones use the awns to tickle each other and young boys tickle the necks of young girls and get their attention. When the grass is young and tender, they are "harvested" easily with a gentle pull, and used by men as dental appliances and to make points in serious conversations. The tender stems are actually pleasant tasting, but that doesn't imply they are edible. Their toxicity is unknown to us. As with so many beautiful plants, they've got reasons for evolving the way they have. Best we guess, the awns are diasporal, a way for the plant to propagate easily. Maybe they are the enemies of food production. We'll leave that to others to decide. But at this time of the year, especially in the evenings when they are backlit by a western sun, they add immense beauty to a wonderful time of the year. At least they have that value. Your comments welcome.- Ed & Linda Permalink | Comments?

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