Kandis Elliot talks about being a botanical illustrator.
“Kandis Elliot is the Senior Artist at the Botany Studio at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (UW). Kandis creates the stimulating educational posters The Studio publishes and distributes to educators all over the world.”
ArtPlantae Today, . “Visualizing Plants at The Botany Studio.” ArtPlantae Today. N.p., 01 march 2011. Web. 31 May 2013. <http://artplantaetoday.com/2011/03/01/kandis-elliot-the-botany-studio-uw-madison/>.
All parts of the Marsch Labrador Tea contain poisonous terpenes that affect the central nervous system, causing aggressive behavior. First symptoms of overdose are dizziness and disturbances in movement, followed by spasms, nausea and unconsciousness. The mere smell of the plant may cause headache to some people. So stay away from this beauty!
nybg:
The invisible beauty of flowers:
Graphic designer turned artist Susumu Nishinaga has used an electron microscope to delve deep into the fabric of petal, leaves and pollen. The Japanese artist then colours the scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images using a computer - to reveal the building blocks of life
1. The pistil (orange) is surrounded by the stamens (pink) of a Buttercup flower (Ranunculus sp.)
2. Flowers of the ladies’ tresses orchid (Spiranthes sp.).
3. Part of the stigma (pink) of an Easter cactus flower (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri). This is the top part of the female reproductive structure (carpel) of the flower. Pollen grains containing the male sex cells land on the stigma and may move down the style (not seen) into the ovary (not seen)
4. The surface of a pansy (Viola tricolor) petal. The petal is covered in tiny epidermal hairs (cone-shaped objects) known as trichomes
5. Pollen on the stigma of a sunflower plant (Helianthus sp.). The stigma, part of the flower’s female reproductive structure, is curled over here, with pollen grains (spiky orange balls) adhering to the yellow trichomes (hairs) on its underside
6. Pollen grains (small balls, lower centre) on the pistil of a Hibiscus sp. flower
7. The surface of a petal from a rape (Brassica napus) flower. The projections are papillae, lumps that help to reduce water loss from the petal
8.The stamens of an apricot (Prunus armeniaca) flower. A stamen, the male reproductive organ, consists of a filament (green) with an anther (red) at its tip.
9. The pistils (purple, female reproductive organs) emerging from the true flowers or florets (yellow) of a whiteweed plant (Ageratum sp.)
10. A cluster of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) flowers
Because it’s not enough to know that flowers are beautiful on the surface, here’s additional evidence that they’re also beautiful at the microscopic level. ~AR
Ah, forbs… I think it’s safe to say I’m obsessed with prairies.
What is that first plant?
I don’t have an answer for you, but that first plant is awesome.
ETA; 05/06/2013 12:16:
The first plant is Amorpha canescens. Thank you oldthrashbarg!
Sensual Saguaro, Detail (by cobalt123)
symphytum flowers on Flickr.
This is Fritillaria thunbergii. A hardy fritillaria that has naturalized in the Wild Garden at Wave Hill. Those tendril like leaves curl around neighboring stems and leaves so that the plant can hold itself up more effectively. The pale greenish, creamy blooms are quite lovely in the spring. I hadn’t tried looking directly up the downward facing flowers before and was surprised to see that they’re checkered, much like another more familiar fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris. Hardy to zone 5.
