Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae). Common Chicory. Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light, including simulated bee colours.

This is the wild form of the vegetable chicory. It is common along streets and paths.

Flowers were photographed near Bensheim, Germany 15 October 2012.

All images were taken with a broadband-modified Panasonic Lumix G1 and the EL-Nikkor 80mm/f5.6 at f8.


 
Visible light image with IR-neutralisation-filter ND (Optic Makario), ISO 100:

image reference: NCH_P1060273_120918


UV-image, Baader U-filter 2”, ISO 400, sunlight

image reference: NCH_P1060276_120918


“simulated bee-colours”: composite image of the greyscale converted UV image (-> blue) and the blue (-> green) and green (-> red) channel of the visible light image. The goal of this is to mimic the spectrum that bees and other insect-pollinators can see.
 
image reference: NCH_P1060275_RGB_sw_121015

 
Interestingly, the petals that appear blue with white centre parts in visible light are UV-dark in the center and get UV-brighter towards the tips. The filaments are also very UV-dark.
The simulated bee colours show a prominent bee-yellow centre that guides the pollinators.