Mirabilis jalapa and its secret

[kds315*]

Mirabilis jalapa, also called "four-a-clock". uses a very special technique to enhance the visibility to its pollinators, in that case hawkmoths, that are active when the light gets dimmer,i.e. in the late afternoon and evening hours (hence that name). Scientists have found out, that the pollen of this flower is highly fluorescent i.e. the ultraviolet light, which is proportionally more present in early morning and later afternoon hours, is "used" and down converted by special pigments in the flowers petals and pollen to visible light (i.e. fluorescence light) according to Stokes Law. So this down converted light overlays the visible light present and so enhances the visibility to its pollinators.

I tried to make this effect visible:

Left: visible image; right: UV induced visible light image:

[Jesito]

Really interesting!.
Nature is full of surprising tricks to improve survival, but this one is highly sophisticated

Thanks for sharing.
Regards.
Jes.

[kds315*]

Yes indeed. I always find it amazing how much still can be discovered!

[poilu]

interesting nature adaptation!

[Kram]

Wow! Amazing! I always enjoy your UV work. Nicely done.

[tobbsman]

nice one ! keep them coming ..

Cheers
Tobias

[kds315*]

Thanks guys!

[visualopsins]

These are fun and easy to grow into lots of color. Some years passed, I don't remember seeing any of variegated color like this one!

Now I wonder about Evening Primrose -- of course the wonderful scent, are there similar attractions among plants with similar flowering habits?

[patrickh]

Fascinating Klaus and well done too.


patrickh

[kds315*]

Thanks guys!

[Orio]

Great work as usual Klaus.