Moleque-duro (Varronia leucocephala): a Caatinga flower and field notes

Walking through the Caatinga requires a particular kind of attention. It is not a hurried gaze, nor a direct search. It is a state of presence. With the arrival of the rains, the landscape transforms: green spreads across the land, and within this renewed density, flowers begin to appear beautifully.

Before the drawing, there is movement. The body crosses the landscape, and the gaze learns to slow down. To observe, in this context, is not only to see; it is to recognize rhythms, variations, and permanence.

During one of these walks, I encountered Moleque-duro (Varronia leucocephala (Moric.) J.S. Mill., family Boraginaceae). These flowers appear mainly during the rainy season.

The approach is always slow. I observe the structure, the way the flowers organize themselves, their relationship with the branch, the light, the surrounding environment. Not every flower asks for haste, and an essential part of this process is recording.

I note the location, observe the type of environment, the incidence of light, and the context in which the plant appears. Whenever possible, I mark the spot where I found the species, because returning is also part of the research. Going back to the same place at another time allows me to understand cycles, variations, and continuities—perceiving what changes and what remains.

This way of working moves across two fields that deeply interest me: art and scientific observation.

The drawing that comes afterward does not arise only from form, but from the relationship built with what was seen and felt.