Human Flower Project

Thursday, August 24, 2006

A Rose for a Tongue Stud

A rosarian in India achieves record dwarfage, thanks to pyramid power.

The world’s tiniest rose, “Moti”

Photo: Dr. Sudhir Khetawat

“The fantasy of making bodies smaller is the same as the fantasy of making bodies larger. It is a fantasy of total power.”

from “The Multiple Protagonist,” by Donald Hall

Which brings us to Sudhir Khetawat. He has succeeded in growing the world’s smallest rose, 12 petals, one centimeter wide.  (That’s about the size of a nostril,  so sniff with caution.)

The Limca Book of Records has vouched for this achievement; Dr. Khetawat’s website provides a rather blurry photo and a smidgen more information. The flower, named “Moti,” was grown at his Pyramid Research Center in Indore, India. “We kept our rose plant under a pyramid in the center two months ago,” he writes. “Due to the effects of electromagnetic waves, the rose buds and flower grew to this size only.” We’ve heard of pyramids sharpening razor blades and keeping frustrated tourists dazzled as they wait in line at the Louvre, but never of their power to dwarf roses. All you pyramid-gardeners, please weigh in here.

“Si” (with FDR) has been out-tinied

Photo: John’s Miniature Roses

It so happens that we were reading just last night about the will to make-miniature in Susan Sontag’s essay “Under the Sign of Saturn.” She writes, “To miniaturize is to make portable—the ideal form of possessing things for both a wanderer or a refugee…To miniaturize is to conceal…To miniaturize means to make useless….” Apparently not if one’s goal is to be listed in the Limca Book of Records.

Dr. Khetawat’s itsy flower seems to have displaced “Si,” previously the world’s tiniest rose, from its high-chair. Señor Pedro Dot (an excellent name for a miniature rose breeder, we must point out) produced “Si” in 1957, when interest in small roses was minimal. Now, it’s a new day.

A bigger “Si,” with Mr. Lincoln

Photo: Old Garden Roses and Beyond

There’s a universe of miniature rose lovers out there, and several nurseries that sell little but. Here’s quite a good introduction by Kim Rupert with minute biographies of some of the most beloved varieties, like Little Pinkie, Fairy Moss. We would like to recommend “Awww” to the namers of miniature roses, and as our eyesight declines, “Where?” would be fitting also.

Here’s a short introduction to arranging miniature roses and for those seriously interested in power, a rosary made with “Si” blossoms.