In this post, we’ll embark on a journey to explore the onion’s layers. We’ll carefully peel away each layer, one by one, to discover what’s inside. Luckily, most onions have only a couple of papery skin layers left by the time they reach our kitchens, so we won’t have to peel too far.
As we remove the outermost papery skin, called the tunic or scaly leaves, we’ll find the crunchy, flavorful part of the onion that’s perfect for cooking.
But that’s not all – beneath this first layer of fleshy leaves lies a thin, protective membrane known as the epidermal peel. This membrane acts as a shield, safeguarding the onion from viruses, fungi, and drying out.
As we continue to peel, we’ll find another layer of fleshy leaves, accompanied by another thin membrane that serves the same protective purpose. This pattern of fleshy leaves and protective membranes continues as we peel deeper into the onion.
When we reach the 5th layer, to our surprise, underneath was a small woody flower stalk was revealed. This stalk was actually the remains of a flower stem that grew from the onion’s terminal bud during its growth phase.
Interestingly, one side of the stalk was bare, while the other side had a small, cone-shaped bud structure. This bud was still part of the onion’s fleshy leaves. To explore further, we carefully cut open the remaining leaves, one by one, while keeping the stem in place.
With great care, we removed the 6th and 7th fleshy leaves, which were cone-shaped too. As we continued, we found the 8th and 9th leaf to be conical as well. The 9th leaf was so small that we couldn’t remove it from the stem, so we gently bent it instead.
As we reached the 10th leaf, we discovered that it not only had a conical shape but also contained three tiny, conical buds inside, the new future plants. Although we couldn’t open this leaf further, its transparency allowed us to see the buds clearly.
An observation was made: starting from the 6th leaf and beyond, every single leaf – including the three buds – had a conical shape. Does it suggest that even though onion leaves begin growing from the stem with a circular base, they’re actually designed to develop into a cone-like shape as they mature?
Stay tuned! Next, we’ll plant the sprouts and watch them grow into onion plants!
Happy reading!
Coming up next ………..Sprouts to plants.
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Dal On The Table 
Interesting! & Like the title too! 👍
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Thank you Meeta.
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reading your interesting writeup reminded me of the concept of ” Onion Layers” of the personality, which is a key idea in Gestalt Therapy, developed by Fritz Perls.
According to Perls, by peeling away the multiple onion layers, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and develop a more authentic, whole and integrated personality.
Thank you for your informative write up.
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I’m so glad “Layer by Layer” resonated with you and took you back to your own subject psychology. There is a quote that says ” Life is like an onion…”.
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Beautifully written. The comparison between the layers of an onion and the complexity of life really resonated with me. It’s amazing how something so ordinary can hold so much meaning.
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Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad the comparison between the layers of an onion and life’s complexities resonated with you. It’s indeed fascinating how everyday things can hold profound symbolism and meaning.
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Interesting to see life have a characteristic of the Raw onion ..to resonate with a strong interior and protective shields in so many forms
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You’re right, Madhu. The onion’s structure, with its protective layers and inner growth, can be seen as a metaphor for life itself.
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