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UltravioletPhotography

Purshia tridentata [Antelope Bitterbush]


Andrea B.

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Blum, A.G. (2013) Purshia tridentata (Pursh) de Candolle (Rosaceae) Antelope Bitterbrush. Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light. http://www.ultraviol...ope-bitterbush/

 

Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma County, Colorado, USA

02 May 2013

Wildflower

 

Synonyms:

  • Antelope Brush
  • Buckbrush
  • Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. var. tridentata

Comment:

Purshia tridentata occupies an important ecological niche in the Western US as a browsing shrub for elk and deer and as a seed provider for small rodents and mammals. The USDA guide also mentions its use in land reclamation. Bitterbush found many uses in Native American medicine. And it is quite lovely in late spring when covered with masses of pale yellow blooms.

In the UV, Purshia tridentata shows UV-black petals and stamens against slightly brighter sepals and leaves. The shrub is insect pollinated, but there no obvious pollinator guides in UV.

 

Reference:

1. Weber & Wittmann (2012) Purshia de Candolle ex Poiret, page 325. Colorado Flora: Western Slope, 4th Ed. The U. of Colo. Press, Boulder, CO.

2. Natural Resources Conservation Service (2013) Antelope Bitterbrush Plant Guide. US Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.g...df/pg_putr2.pdf

 

Equipment: [Nikon D600-broadband + Nikon 105mm f/4.5 UV-Nikkor]

 

Visible Light [f/11 for 1/1250” @ ISO 400 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

purshiaTridentataVisSun_050213mesaVerdeNpCO_10762proofPnCrop.jpg

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/8 for 1/60” @ ISO 400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter]

purshiaTridentataUVBaadSB14_050213mesaVerdeNpCO_10773proofPnCrop.jpg

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