Orange Hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) flower [UV]

Orange Hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) flower [UV]

Description

Title:
Orange Hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) flower [UV]
Caption / Description:

Ultraviolet photograph of Pilosella aurantiaca, a flowering plant of the family Asteraceae native to alpine regions of central and southern Europe, where it is protected in several regions. It has a number of common names: Fox-and-cubs, Orange Hawkweed, Tawny Hawkweed, Devil's Paintbrush, and Grim-the-collier.

It was previously known under the Binomial name Hieracium aurantiacum, but was moved to Pilosella when Hieracium was split. Many members of the genus Pilosella reproduce both by stolons (runners like those of strawberries) and by seeds, whereas true Hieracium species reproduce only by seeds.

The flower appears slightly different in ultraviolet compared to visible light. In UV the flower gets darker towards the centre of the flower. Around the centre of the flower are unfurled petals, which appear dark in UV. The very centre is quite bright. This contrasts with the flower's appearance in visible light, where the flower gets lighter towards the centre, while the very centre is darker.

It is a low-growing plant with shallow fibrous roots and a basal rosette of elliptical to lanceolate leaves. The flowering stem is usually leafless or with just one or two small leaves. The stems may reach a height of 60 cm and have 2–25 capitula (flowerheads), each 1–2½ cm diameter, bundled together at the end of short pedicels.

The plant propagates through its wind-dispersed seeds, and also vegetatively by stolons and shallow rhizomes.

P. aurantiaca is widely grown as an ornamental plant in gardens for its very decorative flowers. It has been introduced into Australasia and North America and escaped from gardens and is considered an invasive species in some areas.

Description adapted from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieracium_aurantiacum and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieracium

Tags / Keywords:
  • Biota
  • Life
  • Vitae
  • Eukaryota
  • Plantae
  • Plants
  • Magnoliophyta
  • Flowering Plants
  • Angiosperms
  • Magnoliopsida
  • Dicotyledons
  • Asteraceae
  • Asterales
  • Asters
  • Compositae
  • Daisies
  • Sunflowers
  • Ultraviolet
  • UV Photography
  • Nectar guide
  • Pilosella
  • Pilosella aurantiaca
  • Orange Hawkweed
  • Fox-and-cubs
  • Tawny Hawkweed
  • Devil's Paintbrush
  • Grim-the-collier
  • Hieracium aurantiacum

Admin

Date Original Photo Taken:
Original File Name:
_DIR6066.psd
Event:
Rating:
☆
Date this image added/last updated on website:
Original File Dimensions:
4256px x 2848px
File Type:
JPEG
Color Mode:
RGB
Original Image Color Profile:
Adobe RGB (1998)

Location

Location Created:
Sublocation:
City:
Market Harborough
Province/State:
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
World Region:
Europe
Geo-location:

Rights

Copyright Status:
Copyrighted
Licensing Status:
Rights Managed
Available for Editorial Use:
Yes
Available for Commercial Use:
Yes
Copyright Notice:
© 2013 Dave Kennard

Camera Data

Date Digital Resource was created:
Shutter speed:
1⁄125 s
Aperture:
f/5.6
Camera Model:
Fujifilm IS Pro
ISO:
800
Exposure Compensation:
0
Focal Length:
80mm
Focal Length (35mm equiv.):
126mm
Metering Mode:
Spot
Flash:
Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:
Manual
White Balance:
Manual
Light Source:
Unknown
Exposure Program:
Manual

Additional shooting metadata

Lens:
Nikon EL-Nikkor 80mm F5.6
Filters used:
  • Baader U
Additional Optics used:
  • Kenko DG Extension Tubes 36mm
  • 17mm-31mm M42 Focusing helicoid
Setup:
Tripod, geared head, focusing rail
2x full spectrum modified Vivitar 283 flashes for lighting

Post Processing

Image Modified:
Software used:
  • Adobe Camera RAW
  • Adobe Photoshop CS5
Post Processing:

Edge of flash or wire at left hand side of image painted over in PS CS5
Channel mixer to modify colours in PS CS5