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UltravioletPhotography

Echinacea purpurea [Purple Coneflower]


Andrea B.

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Blum, A.G. (2013) Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (Asteraceae) Purple Coneflower. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. http://www.ultraviol...ple-coneflower/

 

Middletown, New Jersey, USA

14 August 2007

Wildflower in home garden

 

Synonyms:

Comment:

E. purpurea is native to the eastern US, but is also found in the midwest and on the central prairies. This particular example was part of a wildflower seed mix I grew.

Echinacea has long been used medicinally as an immune system booster and as a treatment for upper respiratory ailments. Recent studies cast doubt on its efficacy, but we should never underestimate the power of

the placebo effect.

Each disc floret has a stiff sharp-pointed bract. Together these bracts give the disc a spiny appearance - hence the genus name from the Greek echinos meaning either 'hedgehog' or 'sea urchin'.

In UV the rays are UV-absorbing with some narrow UV-bright pinstripes along the ray creases. Both florets and bracts on the disc are UV-black with the stigmas and pollen showing UV-brightness.

 

Reference:

1. Flora of North America Online (2013) Echinacea purpurea, vol. 21, pp. 91. FNA. New York & Oxford. http://www.efloras.o...on_id=220004561

 

Equipment [Nikon D200-broadband + Nikon 105mm f/4.5 UV-Nikkor]

 

Visible Light [f/16 for 1/10" @ ISO 400 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

echinaceaVis081407wf_18467origPNRes.jpgechinaceaVis081407wf_18467origPNRes.jpg

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/16 for 1/20" @ ISO 400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter]

echinaceaUV081407wf_18471origPNRes.jpg

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