Letter X

Hi Everyone, 

I hope you all had a good week, and didn't find it too difficult to find an idea for an X tag!

It was probably the most challenging letter we have had, but we will probably find we are more creative than usual because of it!

I did enjoy your W tags, and am intrigued to see what you have all come up with for X.

X is for Xylem

There aren't many words in English which begin with X are there? When I was trying out X words, I thought of Xylem, which must have stayed in my head for many years from Biology lessons! With the help of my lovely book of Biological Drawings by Maud Jepson, I found her beautiful illustrations of cross sections of plants showing the Xylem.

In case you don't remember your Botany, the  Collins dictionary definition of Xylem is:-

1. Xylem

   
   

   noun. a plant tissue that conducts water and mineral salts from the roots to all other parts, provides mechanical support, and forms the wood of trees and shrubs.

   
   

   
   

   I thought the cross sections of plants made really pretty patterns, especially when I coloured them in. These were collaged to a background I  made on my new Gelli Plate, using wooden print blocks and coloured with acrylics. I photographed it on the Biology book.

   
   

   Off to make a cuppa and look at your tags now!
   
   If you want to know more about the Gelli Plate, you can see some printing experiments on my blog Texture Trail.