Hairy and sparkly.
DP095-2013 Posted April 5; processed ditto
Brown Spiderwort, Siderasis fuscata
Family Commelinaceae . . . Native to South America
The points of personal interest to me in the sight, and hence the shot, were the overall hairiness of the leaves (about which more later) and the zillions of tiny rainbow sparkles on the surfaces of the leaves. You can only get a hint of the sparkles even in the large sizes, but can readily see them in 'original', especially in the purple underside of the center leaf..
About the hairs: I did a little looking online about terminology for leaf parts and learned that leaves which have hairy surfaces are termed 'pubescent', and there are dozens of technical terms for the exact nature of the hairs. For example, these straight, fine hairs which cover the surfaces, not just the leaf margins, would be termed 'sericeus', provided they are soft (silky) and not stiff or stinging or aren't sticky from secretions or...you get the picture.
.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory, Tropical House, March 29, 2013
FYI, if it matters, the shadows were cast by natural light. I didn't use a flash. Also, I don't know for sure what all those pale yellow bits that dot the leaves are. They fell from taller plants onto this low-growing spiderwort. They don't really look like pollen, but maybe...
DP095-2013 Posted April 5; processed ditto
Brown Spiderwort, Siderasis fuscata
Family Commelinaceae . . . Native to South America
The points of personal interest to me in the sight, and hence the shot, were the overall hairiness of the leaves (about which more later) and the zillions of tiny rainbow sparkles on the surfaces of the leaves. You can only get a hint of the sparkles even in the large sizes, but can readily see them in 'original', especially in the purple underside of the center leaf..
About the hairs: I did a little looking online about terminology for leaf parts and learned that leaves which have hairy surfaces are termed 'pubescent', and there are dozens of technical terms for the exact nature of the hairs. For example, these straight, fine hairs which cover the surfaces, not just the leaf margins, would be termed 'sericeus', provided they are soft (silky) and not stiff or stinging or aren't sticky from secretions or...you get the picture.
.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory, Tropical House, March 29, 2013
FYI, if it matters, the shadows were cast by natural light. I didn't use a flash. Also, I don't know for sure what all those pale yellow bits that dot the leaves are. They fell from taller plants onto this low-growing spiderwort. They don't really look like pollen, but maybe...
Hairy and sparkly.
DP095-2013 Posted April 5; processed ditto
Brown Spiderwort, Siderasis fuscata
Family Commelinaceae . . . Native to South America
The points of personal interest to me in the sight, and hence the shot, were the overall hairiness of the leaves (about which more later) and the zillions of tiny rainbow sparkles on the surfaces of the leaves. You can only get a hint of the sparkles even in the large sizes, but can readily see them in 'original', especially in the purple underside of the center leaf..
About the hairs: I did a little looking online about terminology for leaf parts and learned that leaves which have hairy surfaces are termed 'pubescent', and there are dozens of technical terms for the exact nature of the hairs. For example, these straight, fine hairs which cover the surfaces, not just the leaf margins, would be termed 'sericeus', provided they are soft (silky) and not stiff or stinging or aren't sticky from secretions or...you get the picture.
.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory, Tropical House, March 29, 2013
FYI, if it matters, the shadows were cast by natural light. I didn't use a flash. Also, I don't know for sure what all those pale yellow bits that dot the leaves are. They fell from taller plants onto this low-growing spiderwort. They don't really look like pollen, but maybe...
DP095-2013 Posted April 5; processed ditto
Brown Spiderwort, Siderasis fuscata
Family Commelinaceae . . . Native to South America
The points of personal interest to me in the sight, and hence the shot, were the overall hairiness of the leaves (about which more later) and the zillions of tiny rainbow sparkles on the surfaces of the leaves. You can only get a hint of the sparkles even in the large sizes, but can readily see them in 'original', especially in the purple underside of the center leaf..
About the hairs: I did a little looking online about terminology for leaf parts and learned that leaves which have hairy surfaces are termed 'pubescent', and there are dozens of technical terms for the exact nature of the hairs. For example, these straight, fine hairs which cover the surfaces, not just the leaf margins, would be termed 'sericeus', provided they are soft (silky) and not stiff or stinging or aren't sticky from secretions or...you get the picture.
.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory, Tropical House, March 29, 2013
FYI, if it matters, the shadows were cast by natural light. I didn't use a flash. Also, I don't know for sure what all those pale yellow bits that dot the leaves are. They fell from taller plants onto this low-growing spiderwort. They don't really look like pollen, but maybe...
See photo in original gallery.