Alchemilla mollis [Lady's Mantle]

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Rørslett, B. 2013. Alchemilla mollis (Buser)Rothm.(Rosaceae). Greater Lady's Mantle. Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light. http://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php?/topic/454-alchemilla-mollis-ladys-mantle/

 

Alchemilla mollis (Buser)Rothm.

NO: Praktmarikåpe

SE: Jättemarikåpa

EN: [Greater] Lady's Mantle

 

This is a medium tall, up to 0.5 m, perennial plant native to mountain areas of Southern Europe. It is widely cultivated as a ground cover plant and is easily naturalised from garden escapes, growing on road verges and dry habitats on thin soils such as rock faces.

 

Flowers are borne in dense racemes and each flower is very small and have a pale yellow-green colour (¨'chartreuse'). They are mildly scented. Flowering is in June. I have seen a lot of smaller winged and non-winged insects coming to visit the inflorescences.

 

Plants collected near Oslo, 12 June 2012. These were naturalised along a smaller road. Additional material from Southern Norway June 2009.

 

Image reference: ALCH_MOL_B0906112331_VIS.jpg

Habitus of whole plant in visible light: NIKON D3X, 200 mm f/2 AFS VR Nikkor lens. These specimens were found in an old abandoned garden.

 

Image reference: ALCH_MOL_B1206152225_VIS.jpg

Detail of inflorescence, in visible light: Nikon D300, Medical-Nikkor 120 mm f/4 lens, built-in ring flash.

 

Image reference: ALCH_MOL_I1206150706_UV.jpg

Inflorescenc in ultraviolet light: Panasonic GH-2, Coastal Optics 60 mm f/4 APO lens, Baader U2" (Venus) filter, SB-140 flash.

 

In UV, the nectaria are quite dark.

 

References:

http://www.ultraviol...ure-references/

 

[Published 7 July 2013]