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UltravioletPhotography

Mentzelia involucrata [Sand Blazingstar]


Andrea B.

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Blum, A.G. (2013) Mentzelia involucrata S. Watson (Loasaceae) Sand Blazingstar. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. http://www.ultraviol...d-blazing-star/

 

Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA

04 March 2012

Wildflower

 

Comment:

The orange petal venation on the pale yellow or cream coloured petals are a key ID point for M. involucrata. Bees see such UV-absorbing cream flowers in the blue-green to green range.

In UV, this desert flower is black and has a most intriguing, glowing bright ring in the base of the flower. It almost looks as though there is some kind of fluorescent gas pooling there.

 

Reference:

1. Morhardt, S. & E. (2004) Mentzelia involucrata, page 192. California Desert Flowers. The U. of Cal. Press, Berkeley, CA.

 

Equipment [Nikon D300-broadband + Carl Zeiss 60mm f/4.0 UV-Planar]

 

Visible Light [f/8 for 1/1500" @ ISO 400 with Nikon D3S]

M. involucrata is seen here growing with some Salvia columbariae (Chia).

mentzeliaInvolucrataVisSun03052012joshuaTreeNpCA_35244origProofPn.jpg

 

Visible Light [f/11 for 1/500" @ ISO 400 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

mentzeliaInvolucrataVisSun030512joshuaTreeNpCA_23233origProofPn.jpg

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 1/250" @ ISO 640 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter]

mentzeliaInvolucrataUVBaadSB14030512joshuaTreeNpCA_23247origProofPn.jpg

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