Physaria fendleri [Fendler's Bladderpod]: A Y-Bk

[Andrea B.]

Blum, A.G. (2014) Physaria fendleri (Gray) O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz (Brassicaceae) Fendler's Bladderpod. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet and visible light.

 

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

25 April 2013

Wildflower in botanical garden

 

Synonyms:

• Lesquerella fendleri (Gray) S. Watson
• Lesquerella praecox Wooton & Standley
• Lesquerella stenophylla (Gray) Rydberg
• Vesicaria fendleri Gray

Comment:

Native to the Southwestern US, P. fendleri is now being developed as a seed oil crop for use in a variety of industrial products as a substitute for imported castor oil.

In Ultraviolet light, the flower is a velvety, shimmering UV-black.

 

Reference:

1. Flora of North America Online (2014) Physaria fendleri, vol. 7, pp. 636. FNA, New York & Oxford. http://www.efloras.o...on_id=250095113

2. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (2014) Lesquerella fendleri. U. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. http://www.wildflowe...p?id_plant=LEFE

 

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

 

Visible Light [f/7.1 for 1/1000" @ ISO 200 with Nikon Coolpix A]

 

Visible Light [f/4.5 for 1/4000" @ ISO 400 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/8 for 1/160" @ ISO 400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter]