Gaillardia pulchella [Indian Blanket]

[dancingcat]

Frary, S.C. (2022) Gaillardia pulchella Foug. (Asteraceae) Indian Blanket. Photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. LINK

 

Collected 13 May 2022, roadside, Waxahachie TX, USA (32.4340 -96.8345).  Voucher deposition: Botanical Research Institute of Texas Herbarium (BRIT) S. C. Frary [130].

 

Other Common Names:  Firewheel, Girasol Rojo.

 

Comment:
Bright red to orange rays, tipped in yellow.  Very colorful masses in prairies, pastures, and along roadsides.  Blooms May through August.
 
Reference:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Database, University of Texas at Austin.
 
Equipment [Olympus EM1mk2-broadband + Olympus 30mm f/3.5 macro]
 
Visible Light [f/8, iso 400, 0.8”, Kolari UV/IR Cut HotMirror Pro 2 filter, Adaptalux white LED, 15-image (differential 3) in-camera stack]

 

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/8, iso 400, 3.2”, BaaderU filter, Kolari UV LED, 15-image (differential 3) in-camera stack]

 

In situ

 

 

 

[Fandyus]

Is this one of those rare UV-white flowers?

[Andrea B.]

 

The rays are UV-bright, but the photo is almost monochrome. Typically Gaillardia are a false pale yellow when photographed under broad spectrum UV (sunlight, for example).  Here's an example with false color: LINK

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Side Note to Sue:  Don't forget to photograph the backs of Asteraceae. They often offer up nice stripey surprises. See this:  LINK

[dancingcat]

This UV was done inside...not in sunlight. And I'm still trying to learn what false color is and how it appears....

 

I will reshoot outside tomorrow.

[Andy Perrin]

The false colors we usually talk about here are the ones that we get using a full spectrum converted camera in a light with a wide spectrum (sun or flash or UV bulb), using a filter that has a wide bandwidth (e.g. Baader, or most stacks), and a lens that passes plenty of shorter-wave UV. And then white balanced on PTFE or equivalent UV-neutral surface.

 

It's mostly fruitless to analyze these false colors too closely but it's also an irresistible temptation. They are often pretty to see though!

[Andrea B.]

Good answer, Andy! 

 

One other small benefit to observe about white balancing reflected UV files, is that it brings out details by reducing the overload of red/magenta/purples which are all too often over-saturated as well. Of course, if one is going for an artistic scene, those reds/magentas/purples can be kept and managed. But they don't always work so well for botanical documentaries.