Sunday 8 March 2015

Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) [Vis UV IR]

Photo of Helleborus niger (Christmas rose; Black hellebore) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom)

Helleborus niger (Christmas rose; Black hellebore) flowers photographed in visible light (top), ultraviolet (middle), and infrared (bottom).

In visible light the flowers have white sepals (that appear like petals) with a green gynoecium at the centre surrounded by small green petals. As the flowers age the sepals turn more of a pink-brown colour, eventually turning green. The sepals are partially translucent when backlit as in this image.

In ultraviolet light the sepals are much more opaque and appear darker.

In infrared the sepals are more translucent and the green parts of the plant appear much brighter than they do in visible or ultraviolet light.

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