Nama demissum [Purplemat]

[nfoto]

Rørslett, B. 2013. Nama demissum A. Gray (Boraginaceae). Purplemat. Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light. http://www.ultraviol...ssum-purplemat/

 

Nama demissum A. Gray

EN: Purplemat; Purple Mat; Common Purple Mat

Nama was formerly placed in the family Hydrophyllaceae.

 

N. demissum is a small, creeping annual plant of gravel , washes, and sandy flats in the deserts of southwestern US. It flowers profusely in early spring. The corolla is funnel-shaped and the stamens are attached a few mm above its base. Flowers are a deep saturated purple colour. While the plants itself is small, it grows in spreading mats from a common centre and the mat itself can become quite shoy and visible at distance against the desert substrate.

 

Plants photographed in Joshua Tree National Park, California, US. 5 Mar 2012. Smaller pollinators were observed visiting these flowers.

 

Image reference: NAMA_DEM_G12030528233_VIS.jpg

Visible light: Nikon D3X, Voigtländer 125 mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar lens, daylight.

 

Image reference: NAMA_DEM_I1203054487_UV.jpg

Ultraviolet light: Nikon D40X, UV-Nikkor 105 mm f/4.5 lens, Baader U2"(Venus) filter, SB-140 flash.

 

The centre of the corolla and the stamens are UV dark. The plant colony itself is dark to set it apart from the desert substrate which on all UV captures acquired so far, appears bright.

 

[Published 25 Apr 2013]