Sporangia of sparse-lobed grape fern (Botrychium ...

The image features two photographs of sporangia on Botrychium biternatum, a type of grape fern, captured under different lighting conditions.

**Left Photograph:**
The left photograph displays the sporangia illuminated by regular daylight. The yellowish-green spore clusters are visible as small spherical structures attached to the underside of leaves. They resemble miniature green grapes, giving rise to the plant's common name "grape fern." The background is dark due to the absence of UV light.

**Right Photograph:**
In contrast, the right photograph shows the same sporangia illuminated by a 365 nm ultraviolet (UV-A) blacklight. Under this specific wavelength of light, the spore clusters exhibit an intense green fluorescence. This effect highlights the unique properties of these structures, which can only be visualized using UV light.

**Key Observations:**

* The sporangia are small and spherical in shape.
* They are attached to the underside of leaves, resembling miniature grapes.
* Under regular daylight, they appear yellowish-green.
* Under 365 nm UV-A blacklight, they emit an intense green fluorescence.

Overall, this image provides a striking comparison between the appearance of Botrychium biternatum sporangia under different lighting conditions. – AI vision