Fleur du jour

Aquilegia. Click for full size.

© C. Ford

© C. Ford

Columbines have been important in the study of evolution. It was found that Sierra Columbine (A. pubescens) and Crimson Columbine (A. formosa) each have adapted specifically to a pollinator. Bees and hummingbirds are the visitors to A. formosa, while hawkmoths would only visit A. pubescens when given a choice. Such a “pollination syndrome”, being due to flower color and orientation controlled by their genetics, ensures reproductive isolation and can be a cause of speciation.

Aquilegia petals show an enormous range of petal spur length diversity ranging from a centimeter to the 15 cm spurs of Aquilegia longissima. Selection from pollinator shifts is suggested to have driven these changes in nectar spur length. Interestingly, it was shown that this amazing spur length diversity is achieved solely through changing cell shape, not cell number or cell size. This suggests that a simple microscopic change can result in a dramatic evolutionarily relevant morphological change. Source.

Snow on the Pyrenees

Thanks to Giliell for these beautiful photos! Click for full size.

On the way home, taken from the moving car at 100km/h. Not too bad...On the way home, taken from the moving car at 100km/h. Not too bad...On the way home, taken from the moving car at 100km/h. Not too bad...

On the way home, taken from the moving car at 100km/h. Not too bad…On the way home, taken from the moving car at 100km/h. Not too bad… © Giliell

And water, two ways. I love photographing water and photos of water, and here, Giliell has water soft and dreamy, and clear and crispy:

© Giliell

© Giliell

 

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© Giliell

Black Wattle & Venerable Fence Post

From Lofty.

Black Wattle Firewood.

Black Wattle Firewood. © Lofty.

Never heard of Black Wattle before. It’s a very beautiful and striking wood. It’s an Acacia, but there are so many Black Wattles!

Venerable fence post. © Lofty.

Venerable fence post. © Lofty.

I have a thing for fence posts myself, they have been frequent subjects – some of them have such character. I really like this shot. Thanks, Lofty!