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Melianthus elongatus [Honeybush]


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Rørslett, B. 2015. Melianthus elongatus Wijnands (Melianthaceae). Honeybush. African flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light. http://www.ultraviol...atus-honeybush/

 

Melianthus elongatus Wijnands

Syn. Melianthus minor L.

 

Also called Turkey Bush, Melianthus elongatus is a quite tall shrub, to 2 m, with large pinnatifid leaves and long racemes of bright red zygomorphic flowers. The flowers contain copious amounts of black nectar thus giving rise to the vernacular name. In fact, the nectar production is so massive the substance can drip along the stems and foliage. The plant is poisonous and smells foul, however.

 

This specimen was found in the Kamiesberg area near Kamieskroon, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, 6 Sept 2015, at an elevation of 1100 m a.sl.

 

MELI_ELO_G1509066546_VIS.jpg

Image reference: MELI_ELO_G1509066546_VIS

 

MELI_ELO_G1509066548_VIS.jpg

Image reference: MELI_ELO_G1509066548_VIS

 

Visible light images: Nikon Df, Voigtländer 125 mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar lens, daylight.

 

MELI_ELO_I1509062766_UV.jpg

Image reference: MELI_ELO_I1509062766_UV

 

UV image obtained with Nikon D3200, UV-Nikkor 105 mm f/4.5 lens, Baader U2" ('Venus') filter (built-in), SB-140 flash.

 

The corolla is moderately UV-reflective and the presence of conical cells adds a shimmering quality to the UV rendition of the flowers.

 

References:

http://www.ultraviol...-r%C3%B8rslett/

 

[ Published 19 November 2015]

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