Eucalyptus macrocarpa [Mottlecah]

[DaveO]

Oldfield, D. 2022. Eucalyptus macrocarpa Hook. subsp. macrocarpa  (Myrtaceae) Mottlecah.

Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light. LINK

 

Maldon Victoria, Australia

1 January 2022

Australian Native Wildflower as Garden Specimen

 

Comment

Eucalyptus macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa is a very distinctive small tree with mallee-type growth habit and spectacular red flowers. It was first formally described in 1842 by William Jackson Hooker from a specimen collected by James Drummond. It grows in undulating heath in the south-west of Western Australia.

 

 

Visible Light: Nikon D750 Full Spectrum Modification, Nikon Rayfact PF10545 MF-UV 105 mm f/4.5 lens, Metz 15 MS-1 flash, 1/200 s @ f/16 ISO 200, Baader UV/IR Cut Filter.

Image Reference: DO67482

 

Ultraviolet Light: Nikon D750 Full Spectrum Modification, Nikon Rayfact PF10545 MF-UV 105 mm f/4.5 lens, Nissin Di866 Mark II flash, 1/200 s @ f/16 ISO 200, Baader UV-Pass Filter.

Image Reference: DO67484

 

Ultraviolet Induced Visible Fluorescence: Nikon D750 Full Spectrum Modification, Nikon Rayfact PF10545 MF-UV 105 mm f/4.5 lens with Baader UV/IR Cut Filter, Nichia NCSU033A UV-LED with Baader UV-Pass Filter, 10.0 s @ f/16 ISO 1600.

Image Reference: DO67485

 

 

 

Published 1 January 2022.

[colinbm]

Wonderful Dave

 

[Andrea B.]

That flower does indeed have a spectacular center.

It's just packed with anthers - rather like some of the cactus flowers I've photographed.

Interesting that the stigma is so very fluorescent.

[DaveO]

Andrea

 

The flower is about 30 mm in diameter if that gives you some idea of the scale.  I have been watching the flower buds develop and the bud cap finally popped off on New Year's Day.  How did the LINK miraculously appear after the head of the post, did you do that bit of magic?

 

Dave

[DaveO]

Andrea,

 

Here is a very interesting review about fluorescence in plants which explains why the stigma is fluorescent.

Autofluorescence in plants

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7288016/

 

Dave

 

[colinbm]

Interesting to read thanks Dave.