Ultraviolet Flowers

Lychnis viscaria L.
Caryophyllaceae
Lychnis viscaria. Visible light
Visible light
Lychnis viscaria. UV light
UV light
(Hoya U-360, SB-140)
Both images: Nikon D1H @800 ISO, UV-Nikkor 105 mm f/4.5

© Bjørn Rørslett/NN

Sticky Catchfly has no visual indication of a bull's-eye pattern. However, a flower centre with low UV reflectance (stamens and stigmas) together with high UV reflectance of the petals create a prominent two-zoned pollinator guide pattern.

The flowers reflect very strongly in near IR as well, as commonly observed with purplish- or bluish-flowering species.

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Last Update 3 August, 2004