Medeola virginica [Indian Cucumber-root]

[Andrea B.]

Blum, A.G. (2013) Medeola virginiana L. (Liliaceae) Indian Cucumber-root. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. http://www.ultraviol...-cucumber-root/

 

Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville, NJ, USA

05 May, 07 May and 25 May 2010

Wildflower

 

Comment:

A native of eastern North America damp woodlands, Medeola virginica has an edible tuberous root with a slight cucumber scent. Its dark purple fall berries are not edible. The flower has an unusual lime green colour and recurved tepals, 6 stamens with orange anthers and a 3-part recurved stigma which is larger than the width of the flower. The flower blooms from the second tier of whorled leaves. An M. virginiana plant with only a single tier of whorled leaves will not produce a bloom.

In UV light the primarily UV-absorbing flower has no marked UV patterning although there is some evidence of conical cell iridescence.

 

1. Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville, NJ, USA

 

Equipment [Nikon D200-broadband + Carl Zeiss 60mm f/4.0 UV-Planar]

 

Visible Light [f/8 for 1/320" @ ISO 800 with Nikon D3S and 60mm f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor]

A two-tiered blooming M. virginiana.

 

Visible Light [f/4.5 for 1/400" @ ISO 800 with Nikon D3S and 60mm f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor]

Click photo to view at 1200 pixels wide.

 

Visible Light [f/5.6 for 1/8000" @ ISO 1270 with Nikon D3S and 60mm f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor]

A non-blooming M. virginiana.

 

Visible Light [f/11 for 1/180" @ ISO 400 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

Click photo to view at 1200 pixels wide.

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 1/2" @ ISO 500 with Nichia 365nm UV-Led and Baader UV-Pass Filter]

Use of a somewhat narrowband UV-Led reduces false colour differentation and gives this photo an almost monochrome appearance.

Click photo to view at 1200 pixels wide.