Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata) when exposed to ...

The photograph showcases a flowering spurge plant (Euphorbia corollata), captured under two different light conditions: regular daylight and ultraviolet (UV-A) illumination using a blacklight emitting at 365 nm wavelength.

Under standard daylight, the flowers appear white or pale pink, with five petals each. The greenish-yellow center of each flower is visible in the background against the darker leaves of the plant, which are not visible due to the darkened image.

In contrast, when illuminated by a blacklight at 365 nm wavelength, the same flowering spurge appears dramatically different. Each petal glows bright pink or red with a greenish-yellow center. The glowing flower is set against a dark background, making the leaves and stems of the plant invisible.

This phenomenon occurs because many plants, including this species of euphorbia, contain fluorescent pigments known as anthocyanins, which absorb UV light and emit longer wavelengths that are visible to the human eye. This results in a glowing effect when illuminated with UV-A blacklights.

The image captures this striking contrast between the appearance of the flowering spurge under regular daylight and under UV-A illumination, highlighting the unique properties of its fluorescent pigments. – AI vision