Saturday, May 9, 2015

Shikoko Cobra Lilly - Arisaema sikokianum in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee vision

Today shots of a rare early spring flower, common in Japan at Shikoko island, Shikoko Cobra Lilly - Arisaema sikokianum. in reflected ultraviolet photography and simulated bee vision. All shots were done at about f5.6 in reflected ultraviolet photography using my "work horse" UV filter, the Baader-U filter, as well as my XBV6 filter for simulated bee vision. Lens was a CERCO 94mm quartz fluorite lens. Light source was sunlight.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Triptych of human vision, UV and simulated bee vision (left to right):
 
 
 

This Cobra Lilly flower has are extremely UV bright cup around 370nm, with parts drifting towards 380nm and its spadix has UV bright veins leading towards the cup. And all this gets nicely visible, also in simulated bee vision. There is however something lighting up around 340nm that caught my attention and I will investigate on that.

There is more about that deep UV reflection of this flower HERE
 
Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos