 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.


 Development of a Zinnia Flower

   February 24, 2021

    TOP

    BOTTOM

   Photographer:  Menashe Davidson
   Summary Author:  Menashe Davidson

   When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your
   world for the moment
   -  Georgia O’Keeffe

   In nature, flowers have a simple purpose:  reproduction. Insects are
   lured into their  pollen-filled centers to facilitate the plant’s
    fertilization and survival. Coincidentally, humans are attracted by
   the harmonious colors, soft curves, fragrance and  symmetrical forms
   of flowers.

    Zinnias (family  compositeae) convert all their shoots on every
   stem into flowering branches and have a single  flower head (top).
   The head consists of small, fertile, symmetrical flowers gathered in
   the central disk ( disk florets), surrounded by a petal-shaped row
   of infertile and asymmetrical flowers ( ray florets, in the
   periphery). Very popular in horticulture, zinnias are excellent plants
   to have in my apartment garden. With them close by, I'm able to
   photograph all stages of growth (bottom). In these pictures, I focused
   on the core of the  flower's head (capitulum) as it matured. The
   resulting photos show the magnificent beauty of the variable shapes,
   colors and curves.
   Like the painter O'Keeffe said, it became my world for many moments.
     * Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates:  31.9730, 34.7925

Related EPODs

    Development of a Zinnia Flower  A Tree is Known by its Fruit
    Trumpet Lichen  Duckweed at Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois
    Hygroscopic Pinecones  Mile-a-Minute Weed
    More...

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?

-
   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu
 
