Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous buttercup) [Vis UV IR]

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]

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.

Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) [Vis UV IR]

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]

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).

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).

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).

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.

Spiraea sp. [Vis UV IR]

Flowers of a Spiraea sp. plant (possibly Spiraea nipponica or Spiraea × vanhouttei) photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower has white petals with a darker yellow centre. The leaves are quite a dark green.

In ultraviolet the petals of the flowers are much darker, while the centres are very dark and appear quite glossy.

In infrared the centres of the flowers are only very slightly darker than the petals. The leaves appear much brighter in infrared, almost as bright as the flowers.

Bergenia crassifolia (Elephant's ears) [Vis UV IR]

A cluster of Elephant's ears (Bergenia crassifolia) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flowers have pink petals with slightly darker green stigmas and style. The anthers appear a darker red-brown colour, covered in lightly coloured yellow pollen grains.

In ultraviolet light the flowers appear very similar in terms of tonality. The stigma is slightly darker.

In infrared light the stigmas appear slightly brighter than they do in visible light. The anthers are brighter, while the pollen and petals remain roughly the same brightness.

Bergenia crassifolia flowers in late Winter / early Spring, and is also known as Winter-blooming bergenia.

Small cactus cultivar [Vis UV IR]

Comparison image of the flower of a small cactus (possibly a Mammillaria elongata cultivar) photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the flower has light yellow coloured petals, with light yellow stamens clustered in the centre. The cactus stem is dark green, but is covered with white spines. Around the top of this larger stem bearing the flower are also some longer brown spines.

The flower's appearance in ultraviolet is quite different to that in visible light. The petals appear much darker, making the flower stand out from the white spines covering the cactus. The anthers and pollen also appear much darker in UV. The rest of the cactus appears quite similar to how it appears in visible light, with a dark stem covered in light spines and some darker spines around the flower.

In infrared the cactus and flower appear much the same as they do in visible light, with the exception of the stem. The stem appears much brighter in infrared.

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop) flower [Vis UV IR]

Comparison looking up at the inside of a Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop) flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flower consists of three long white oval tepals, with three shorter petals around the centre. The petals are also white, but have darker green markings on the inside and a green V shaped marking on the outside. At the centre of the flower are six pointed yellow anthers.

In ultraviolet light the flower appears pretty similar. The three outer tepals remain a light colour. The three petals also remain lightly toned with the darker marking on the inside. The six anthers at the centre of the flower appear darker in ultraviolet. Bees and insects can see ultraviolet light, and the dark markings on the inside of the petals may help guide them to where the pollen / nectar are located.

In infrared the tepals and petals remain lightly toned. However, the darker marking inside the petals is missing. The anthers appear brighter than they do in visible light.

The snowdrop is a common flower throughout the UK, and is one of the first flowers to emerge in the new year. Typically they flower around February in the UK. They prefer damp, shady areas, and are often found growing in clumps in woodland.

Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) flower photographed in Visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom). The flower is growing near the end of the stem, with two flower buds yet to open below it.

In visible light the flower has five yellow petals with a stigma of a similar colour and tone to the petals. The unopened flower buds have green carpels and yellow petals, with some red markings. The stem is a dark green colour.

In ultraviolet the flower has a dark marking around the centre visible. This is commonly known as a 'nectar guide', as it is thought that it helps guide bees and other insects (which can see ultraviolet light) to the centre of the flower where the nectar and pollen are located. The sepals are much darker in ultraviolet, and the the stem also appears darker.

In infrared the sepals appear brighter, and the stem appears much brighter than it does in visible light.

Although native to China, Jasminum nudiflorum has been cultivated and is grown throughout the world. It flowers from November to March, one of the few plants that flower over the winter.

Crassula ovata (Money tree) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Crassula ovata flowers photographed in visible light, ultraviolet light, and near-infrared light.

In visible light the flowers are white, the pistils are white with a slight pink colouration. The flowers are quite bright. In ultraviolet the flowers do not appear greatly different, though the styles appear much darker.

In infrared the flowers do not differ much from their visible light appearance either. The base of the ovaries, where the nectar is located, appear slightly brighter.

Crassula ovata is also known by the common names Jade plant, Friendship tree, Lucky plant, or Money tree. It is native to South Africa but is commonly grown as a houseplant worldwide.

Osteospermum ecklonis [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Osteospermum ecklonis flower photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flower head has white petals with a pink-purple tint, being more strongly coloured and darker towards the base of the petals. The centre is yellow with a darker purple section in the very middle.

In ultraviolet light the centre of the flower appears much darker. The base of the petals appears dark, the area that appears dark depends on the direction of the light on the petals.

In infrared light the petals are a single tone, the base of the petals is not dark. The centre of the flower has a similar tone to the petals, with the very centre being darker, similar to the flower's appearance in visible light but with a smaller difference in tone. the main difference visible in infrared is that all the foliage in the background is much brighter than it appears in visible light.

Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of a Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower is a uniform white colour.

In ultraviolet light a darker area around the mouth of the flower is visible. This may act as a nectar guide, aiding bees (which can see ultraviolet light) to the area of the flower where the nectar and pollen are located.

In infrared light the flower appears a single tone. The leaf of the plant appears brighter in infrared, having around the same brightness as the flower.

Aster sp. (Michaelmas daisy) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of an Aster (Michaelmas daisy) flower photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flower head has a yellow centre with light purple petals. In ultraviolet light the centre of the flower is quite dark. In infrared the flower's appearance is not much different (in terms of tone) from in visible light. The stalk and foliage appear brighter in infrared.

Astilbe [Vis UV IR]

Astilbe cultivar flowers photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flowers appear a deep pink colour.

In ultraviolet light the tonality of the flowers appears to be pretty similar to their tonality in visible light.

In infrared light the flowers appear brighter, with very little variation in tone between the different parts of the flowers.

Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of the flower of Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flower appears a light violet colour with a white three lobed stigma in the centre.

In ultraviolet light the flower still appears pale, but the stigma is much darker.

In infrared light the flower's tonality is similar to that in visible light. The stalk and leaf appears brighter.

Epilobium palustre (Marsh willowherb) [Vis UV IR]

Epilobium palustre (Marsh willowherb) photographed in visible light (left), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (right).

In visible light the flowers appear pale pink with darker pink veins. The pollen in the centre of the flowers is pale yellow.

In ultraviolet light the vein patterns on the petals appear lighter than the petals. The centre of the flower exhibits a dark nectar guide.

In infrared the flowers have a similar tonality to their appearance in visible light. The veining on the petals is still visible, but not quite as pronounced. The seed pod, stalk and leaves appear much brighter.

Jacobaea vulgaris (Common Ragwort) [Vis UV IR]

Comparison of Jacobaea vulgaris (Common Ragwort) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet light (middle), and infrared light (bottom).

In visible light the plant has bright yellow flower heads with slightly darker centres.

In ultraviolet light the centres are much darker.

In infrared light the centres of the flower heads appear brighter, as does the foliage.