Saturday 14 March 2015

Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous buttercup) [Vis UV IR]

Photo of Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous buttercup) flower in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared (right)

Comparison of a Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous buttercup) flower in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared (right).

In visible light the flower has bright yellow petals with bright yellow stamens surrounding a slightly darker yellow-green cluster of carpels at the centre. The stem and leaves are green in colour and much darker than the flower.

In ultraviolet, veining is seen much more clearly on the petals. The base of each petal has a very dark marking (a nectar guide). The carpels and stamens both appear dark as well. The stem and leaves are also dark.

In infrared the gynoecium appears the same brightness as the stamens and petals. The stem and leaves also appear much brighter than they do in visible light.

Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear chickweed) [Vis UV IR]

Photo of a Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear chickweed) flower in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared (bottom)

Comparison of a Cerastium fontanum (Common mouse-ear chickweed) flower in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower has white petals with slightly darker markings running from the base to about two thirds up. The bases of the petals and centre of the flower are green in colour and mid-toned. The style and stamens are white, while the pollen is a light yellow colour. The sepals and leaves are a mid - dark tone green.

In ultraviolet the petals retain the stripe markings, but also have a darker area covering the bottom two thirds (a nectar guide). The centre of the flower and the sexual parts appear quite dark.

In infrared the stripe markings on the petals are still visible, though not quite as obvious as in visible or ultraviolet light. The parts of the plant that appear green in visible light (the centre of the flower, sepals, and leaves) all appear quite bright.

Sunday 8 March 2015

Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) [Vis UV IR]

Photo of Helleborus niger (Christmas rose; Black hellebore) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom)

Helleborus niger (Christmas rose; Black hellebore) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flowers have white sepals (that appear like petals) with a green gynoecium at the centre surrounded by small green petals. As the flowers age the sepals turn more of a pink-brown colour, eventually turning green. The sepals are partially translucent when backlit as in this image.

In ultraviolet light the sepals are much more opaque and appear darker.

In infrared the sepals are more translucent and the green parts of the plant appear much brighter than they do in visible or ultraviolet light.

Malus sylvestris (European Crabapple) [Vis UV IR]

Photo of a Malus sylvestris (European Crabapple) flower in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom)

Malus sylvestris (European Crabapple) flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower is white with a slight pink tinge. Unopened blossoms have a stronger pink colour. At the centre of the flower are stamens with light yellow coloured anthers. The stigmas are smaller, though similar in colour to the anthers. The tree's leaves appear green and are quite dark in tone.

In ultraviolet the anthers and stigmas appear darker, though remain similar in tone in comparison to each other.

In infrared the plant's leaves appear much brighter. There is little difference in tone between the flower's petals, the sexual parts of the flower, and the leaves - they all appear quite bright.

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn; Sloe) [Vis UV IR]

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn; Sloe) flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (right)

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn; Sloe) flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (right).

In visible light the flower has white petals with a green centre. The stamens have white filaments with brown anthers. The pistil is green. The leaves are a dark green and the branch is a mid-tone brown.

In ultraviolet the flower appears darker, while the branch appears lighter (in comparison to the rest of the plant).

In infrared the plant's leaves appear much brighter. There is little difference in tone between the flower's petals, the sexual parts of the flower, the leaves, and the branch - they all appear quite bright.

Ranunculus acris (Meadow buttercup) [Vis UV IR]

Ranunculus acris (Meadow buttercup) flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (right)

Ranunculus acris (Meadow buttercup) flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (right).

In visible light the flower has glossy bright yellow petals, with the base of the petals being slightly less saturated in colour. At the centre of the flower is a cluster of bright green - yellow coloured pistils. The gynoecium is surrounded by bright yellow coloured stamens. In terms of tone the sexual parts of the flower and the petals are roughly the same tone.

In ultraviolet the petals appear less glossy. At the base they have dark ultraviolet markings, matching the areas of the petals that appear slightly less brilliant yellow in visible light. The gynoecium and stamens appear very dark in ultraviolet.

In infrared the flower appears less glossy than it does in visible light, though glossier than in ultraviolet. All parts of the flower appear roughly the same tone, as in visible light.

Silene dioica (Red Campion) female [Vis UV IR]

Silene dioica (Red Campion) female flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom)

Silene dioica (Red Campion) female flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower has pink coloured petals, relatively bright in tone. The pistils at the centre of the flower are white, slightly brighter in tone than the petals. The large ovoid calyx connecting the plant to the stem, the stem itself, and the leaves are all middle toned.

In ultraviolet the stigmas at the centre of the flower are very dark, almost black.

In infrared the flower, calyx, stem, and leaf are all around the same tone, as is the foliage in the background, meaning it is quite difficult to make out much in the image at all.