Zinnia grandiflora [Prairie Zinnia]

[Andrea B.]

 

Blum, Andrea G. (2022) Zinnia grandiflora Nutt. (Asteraceae) Prairie Zinnia. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. LINK

 

La Secuela, El Dorado at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

11 August 2021

Wildflower in Home Garden

 

Synonyms:

• Crassina grandiflora (Nutt.) Kuntze

 

Other Common Names:

• Little Golden Zinnia
• Rocky Mountain Zinnia
• Great Plains Zinnia
• Plains Zinnia

 

Comment

Prairie Zinnias are a good addition to a xeric garden. They are drought tolerant, love the heat and attract bees and butterflies. They make cheerful, golden floppy mounds around the low-growing Penstemon leaves in my own garden.

 

Under two different UV-pass filters, one peaking at 350 nm and the other recording primarily in the 375-400 nm range, the faces of the golden flowers become very dark and UV-absorbing with a few minor stripes of brighter iridescence along the rays. On the abaxial side, their UV-absorbance is only moderate. This was a bit of a surprise.

 

References

1. SEINet Arizona-New Mexico Chapter (acc 07 May 2022) Zinnia grandiflora

This is a southwestern biodiversity organization making use of the Symbiota portal software.

2. Allred, Kelly W., Jercinovic, Eugene M., Ivey, Robert DeWitt (2021) Flora Neomexicana III: An Illustrated Identification Manual, Second Edition, Part 2, Key, page xxx. Print on demand at lulu.com.

 

Gear [Nikon D610 full spectrum conversion + UV-Nikkor 105/4.5]

 

Visible Light [f/16 for 1" @ ISO-100 under Skylight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

 

 

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/16 for 15" @ ISO-400 with SB-140 UV-Flash and BaaderU UV-Pass Filter]

^{3 flashes were made during the 15 second interval.}

This UV-pass filter peaks at 350 nm.

 

 

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/16 for 15" @ ISO-400 with SB-140 UV-Flash and SEU UV-Pass Filter]

^{3 flashes were made during the15 second interval.}

This UV-pass filter passes UV light primarily in the 375 - 400 nm band.

 

 

 

Visible Light [f/16 for 2" @ ISO-100 under Skylight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

Side view.

 

 

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/16 for 15" @ ISO-400 with SB-140 UV-Flash and BaaderU UV-Pass Filter]

Side view.

 

 

 

Visible Light [f/16 for 1" @ ISO-100 under Skylight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

Abaxial view.

 

 

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 15" @ ISO-400 with SB-140 UV-Flash and BaaderU UV-Pass Filter]

Abaxial view.

 

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/16 for 15" @ ISO-400 with SB-140 UV-Flash and SEU UV-Pass Filter]

Abaxial view.

 

 

 

[colinbm]

Nice examples Andrea

[Andrea B.]

Thankee, Col.

You are always so good about looking at the floral entries and commenting. 

 

I have to note here that I'm getting some of that greenish cast. Quite noticeable in the UV abaxial view. But this is unusual for the Nikon D610 conversion. So now I am beginning to wonder if it has something to do with the SB-140 UV-flash. In the past I've always used a converted SB-14 flash. It is time to test them side by side under a different UV illuminations.