Cucurbita Citrina - Bottlebrush Gourd.  A fibre sculpture of an imaginary plant.

Wet-felted merino wool and freehand machine embroidery on soluble fabric.

38cm x 38cm x 41cm

This sculpture is stiffened with PVA.

We welcome species from across the globe into our local environments. Sometimes these introductions benefit humanity; other times, they prove disastrous for native ecosystems.

Take the courgette (zucchini), originally from South America, now cultivated worldwide for its edible flowers and fruit. Or the Bottlebrush Tree, native to Australia, grown far beyond its homeland for its striking blossoms.

Both can be found here in England yet this is an alien environment for both plants.

I have imagined what might occur if in this new, unfamiliar, shared environment, these two plants — strangers to each other — were to cross-pollinate and give rise to a new hybrid species.

Scientific name:   Cucurbita Citrina.

Common name:  Bottlebrush Gourd.

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