Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum [Moor-King Lousewort]

[nfoto]

Rørslett, B. 2013. Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum L. (Orobanchaceae). Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light.

 

Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum L.

NO: Kongsspir

SE: Kung Karls spira

DK: Kongescepter

FI: Kaarlenvaltikka

DE: Karlszepter

EN: Moor-King lousewort

 

This is a hemiparasitic species of moorland and damp alpine meadows native to northern Europe and western parts of Russia, with a few locations in the Alps. It grows to about 1 m tall and flowers in mid or late summer. The bright yellow flowers are tipped with red and are clustered in a terminal corymb.

 

Although definitively not rare in the Nordic countries it is a pretty plant and thus protected by Law to lessen a threat to the populations from picking.

 

Specimens collected in Finnmark, Arctic Norway 21 Jul 2013.

 

Image reference: PEDI_SCE_B1307217356_VIS.jpg

Visible light: Nikon D800, Voigtländer 125 mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar lens, daylight.

 

Image reference: PEDI_SCE_I1307210815_UV.jpg

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

 

The UV signature of P. sceptrum-carolinum is dominated by the strong presence of conical cells on the corolla that gives the flower a shimmering appearance.

 

References:

 

http://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php?/topic/88-my-references-bj%C3%B8rn-r%C3%B8rslett/

 

[Published 26 Aug 2013]