Andrea B. Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Blum, A.G. (2013, 2016) Eremalche rotundifolia (A.Gray) Greene (Malvaceae) Desert Fivespot. Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light. http://www.ultraviol...esert-fivespot/ Synonyms:Lantern FlowerMalvastrum rotundifolium A. GrayComment:The hot pink globe of the Desert Fivespot conceals a lovely inner complexity of jagged red patches and green triangles against a white throat with an array of pink tinged filaments carrying white pollen-laden anthers. In UV its outer petals are velvet UV-black while the inner surface exhibits a UV-shiny iridescence. The visible red patches show a bit of false UV blue with some faint striping. The visible green triangles are UV-bright. One could be forgiven for thinking that the flower calls attention to its pollinators in two distinct ways - with its colourful inner visible patterns and by standing out in UV so darkly against the UV-bright desert floor.The plant is native to the deserts of the SW US and NW Mexico. Reference:1. Jepson eFlora (2013) Eremalche rotundifolia (A. Gray) Greene. Jepson Herbarium, U. of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. http://ucjeps.berkel...JM.pl?tid=24549 SET 1Death Valley National Park, Furnace Creek Ranch, Furnace Creek, California, USA01 March 2012Wildflower Equipment [Nikon D300-broadband + Carl Zeiss 60mm f/4.0 UV-Planar] Visible Light [f/8 for 1/1000" @ ISO 200 with Nikon D3S + Nikon 60mm f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor] Visible Light [f/11 for 1/250" @ ISO 800 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter] Ultraviolet Light [f/xxx for 1/xxx" @ ISO XXX with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter] Link to comment
Andrea B. Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 SET 2Death Valley National Park, Furnace Creek Ranch, Furnace Creek, California, USA17 February 2016Wildflower Comment:During the Death Valley superbloom of spring 2016, Eremalche rotundifolia could be found everywhere in contrast to my visit of 2012 when I found only two. Equipment:Visible [Nikon D600-broadband + Nikkor 70-200/4G VR Zoom]Unless otherwise marked.Ultraviolet [Nikon D600-broadband + Nikon 105mm f/4.5 UV-Nikkor] Visible Light [f/8 for 1/250" @ ISO-400 and EV +0.3]Showing intricate inner details. Visible Light [f/9 for 1/1250" @ ISO-400 and EV -0.3]The coiled bud of E. rotundifolia. The leaves and stems are quite hairy. Visible Light [f/9 for 1/1000" @ ISO-400 and EV -0.3]All alone against the desert floor in this area. Elsewhere the Five-Spots were happily blooming mixed with other wildflowers. Visible Light [f/11 for 1/800" @ ISO-400 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]UV-Nikkor used for this visible photo. Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 1/30" @ ISO-400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter] Ultraviolet Light [Detail from preceding photo]Trying to show inner striping in UV. Link to comment
Andrea B. Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 SET 3Just outside the Mohave National Preserve, San Bernadino County, California, USA22 February 2016Wildflower Comment:After a nice sojourn down Zzyzx Road to see Soda Lake, we crossed an overpass to back get on Interstate 15. I saw a soon-to-be-run-over Eremalche plant growing on the corner of the overpass and the highway access road. I brought one of the flowers back to the hotel room to photograph. Equipment [Nikon D600-broadband + Nikon 105mm f/4.5 UV-Nikkor] Visible Light [f/11 for 1/200" @ ISO-400 with Onboard Flash and Baader UVIR-Block Filter]The green triangles seen in previous photos barely show in this example. Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 13" @ ISO-200 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter]The UV-flash was used twice during the interval for increased lighting. The Five-Spot flower is very shiny inside under strong light. The stripes seen in previous UV photos are washed out here, but iridescence can be seen. Ultraviolet Light [Detail from preceding photo.]Obvious iridescence. UV-Induced Visible Fluorescence [f/11 for 2.5" @ ISO-200. Nichia 365 UV-Led with no filtration. Lens with Baader UVIR-Block Filter. Photographed in Darkness.]This example is not of sufficient quality for larger reproduction, may lack proper colour balance, and used an unfiltered UV-torch. But it does show (well, I hope!) that the pollen of E. rotundifolia is fluorescent. Link to comment
Andy Perrin Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 This one is amazing, particularly the UV pics in Set 2. Link to comment
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