I am feeling very guilty as it is a long time since I have posted any photos, yet I have been enjoying all your posts and commenting on them.
This is a stack (11 photos), using CZM weighted average, of the hairs on the upper leaf surface of Salvinia (probably S. molesta). I used a mixture of transmitted light to give the green leaf background and reflected light to pick up the hairs. I am trying this with a number of different plants, but with only limited success - I need a stronger reflected light source ( and more skill
). Not entirely happy with the result, but I think it is an interesting subject.
This is what the plant looks like:
Salvinia is a floating fern common in many warmer countries (often introduced) and can cause problems covering vast areas of water.
The "egg-beater" hairs trap air and will right the plant or if submerged, buoy the plant back up to the surface.
BrianO
