Subj : ES Picture of the Day 26  2022
To   : All
From : Dan Richter
Date : Tue Apr 26 2022 12:00:58

 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Effect of Rainfall on Ornamental Flowers

   April 26, 2022

    Menashe_Picture1_Feb22a

    Menashe_Picture2_Feb22a
   Photographer:  Menashe Davidson

   Summary Author:  Menashe Davidson

   Many researchers, including  Charles Darwin, have speculated that
   flowers may have evolved certain traits or structures to protect
   themselves against the damaging effects of rain, which can wash away
   pollen grains and dilute nectar. This finding could explain why many
   species in rainy areas either have droopy flowers or close their
   petals.

   The photos above were taken in my home garden in Rishon Le Zion Israel,
   on December 21, 2021, following a stormy day with 2.75 inches (70 mm)
   of rainfall. Three ornamentals' flowers, adjacent to each other,
   demonstrate different traits regarding their reaction to the rainfall.

   At center is a  petunia, genus in the family Solanaceae. Without any
   structure or trait to protect itself against the heavy rainfall,
   significant reproductive damage was caused. We can see that the petals
   are considerably withered.

   At right is a  cyclamen, perennial in the family Primulaceae. With a
   flower shape in which the sexual organs are facing the ground, the
   pollen is nearly completely protected by the flower structure. At left
   is a  narcissus, perennial plant of the amaryllis family. Here we
   can that temporal bending of the flower stalks changes the orientation
   of the flower to protect its  sexual organs.

   On the collage at bottom, pictures of the same species were taken
   4-days later, on the first sunny day after the storm event. I was
   astonished by the revival of the petunia plant! A new, gorgeous flower
   had just opened. Note that the withered flowers were cut.

   As can be observed by their vigor, all of these plants seem to be
   positively responding to the increased soil moisture and the sunshine.
     * Rishon Le Zion, Israel Coordinates: 31.9730, 34.7925

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Plant Links

     *  Discover Life
     *  Tree Encyclopedia
     *  What are Phytoplankton?
     *  Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
     *  USDA Plants Database
     *  University of Texas Native Plant Database
     *  Plants in Motion
     *  What Tree is It?

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   Space Research Association.

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