A Welcome Sight
by Bruce Bley
Title
A Welcome Sight
Artist
Bruce Bley
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This macro shot of blue violet irises was found in a ditch along on of the highways I was driving on in my area.
Iris is a genus of 260-300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species, as well as, being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, though some plants called thus belong to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is 'flags', while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as 'junos', particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower.
Irises are perennial plants, growing from creeping rhizomes (rhizomatous irises) or, in drier climates, from bulbs (bulbous irises). They have long, erect flowering stems which may be simple or branched, solid or hollow, and flattened or have a circular cross-section. The rhizomatous species usually have 3-10 basal sword-shaped leaves growing in dense clumps. The bulbous species have cylindrical, basal leaves.
The inflorescences are fan-shaped and contain one or more symmetrical six-lobed flowers. These grow on a pedicel or lack a footstalk. The three sepals, which are spreading or droop downwards, are referred to as "falls". They expand from their narrow base, which in some of the rhizomatous irises has a "beard" (a tuft of short upright extensions growing in its midline), into a broader expanded portion ("limb"), often adorned with veining, lines or dots. The three, sometimes reduced, petals stand upright, partly behind the sepal bases. They are called "standards". Some smaller iris species have all six lobes pointing straight outwards, but generally limb and standards differ markedly in appearance. They are united at their base into a floral tube that lies above the ovary (known as an epigynous or inferior ovary). The styles divide towards the apex into petaloid branches; this is significant in pollination.
The iris flower is of interest as an example of the relation between flowering plants and pollinating insects. The shape of the flower and the position of the pollen-receiving and stigmatic surfaces on the outer petals form a landing-stage for a flying insect, which in probing for nectar, will first come into contact with the perianth, then with the stigmatic stamens in one whorled surface which is borne on an ovary formed of three carpels. The shelf-like transverse projection on the inner whorled underside of the stamens is beneath the overarching style arm below the stigma, so that the insect comes in contact with its pollen-covered surface only after passing the stigma; in backing out of the flower it will come in contact only with the non-receptive lower face of the stigma. Thus, an insect bearing pollen from one flower will, in entering a second, deposit the pollen on the stigma; in backing out of a flower, the pollen which it bears will not be rubbed off on the stigma of the same flower.
I hope you have enjoyed this photograph and will share it with others. You can see more of my work on my homepage in the various galleries I have created. Thank you for visiting and please come back.
Uploaded
May 28th, 2014
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Viewed 276 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/25/2024 at 7:15 PM
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Comments (19)
Bijan Pirnia
Mr. Bruce, my dear sir, you're such a popular guy. Maybe I should ride on your coat-tail. congratulations on the sale.
Brian Tada
Bruce, this is so awesome... Beautiful perspective and colors! Congratulations on your marvelous sale! Bravo! F/L
Marsha Heiken
Bruce ,This is a dreamy picture. I love Irises ! So glad I joined your feature. Marsha FV
Sharon Nelson-Bianco
Hi Bruce, lovely composition for a favorite - blue iris. Very creative and wonderful. Best regards, Sharon
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you for the wonderful compliment, Sharon. I sincerely appreciate it and thank you for visiting.
Bruce Bley
Sylvia, I wan to thank you for the feature in the group "3 A Day Greeting Cards for All Occasions". I truly appreciate it.
Bruce Bley
Kerstin, Thank you so much for the feature in the group "On the Hospital Wall". I sincerely appreciate the honor.
Will Borden
Hi Bruce~~a stunning Iris photograph- sure like the perspective! All the Best!! F&L&Twt!!
Karen Slagle
Gorgeous flowers and wonderful point of view. like
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you for the kind and gracious comment, Karen. I am glad you enjoyed this photograph.
Laurie Search
This is so gorgeous, bruce!!!! :)))fv
Bruce Bley replied:
Thank you so much, Laurie. I am glad you enjoyed this photograph and thank you for the F/v
Bruce Bley
Naomi, I am very grateful for the feature in the group "Worldly Photography ". I appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Svetlana, I want to thank you for the feature in the group "The World We See". I truly appreciate the honor.
Bruce Bley
Pamela, I sincerely appreciate the feature in the group "3 A Day Waiting Room ART". Thank you so much for the honor.