April 19, 2009: Frost Flower

Pie · 04-19-2009, 12:13 AM

Is that some sort of pulled-sugar-taffy-like concoction?

No, it's a Frost Flower.

Quote:

The beautiful photo above shows an intriguing and intricate frost flower.

Frost flowers aren't flowers at all, and well, they're not even frost. They occasionally form after the season's first heavy freeze kills a small plant. Even though the leafy matter is dead, the root system continues pumping water up through the stem -- by capillary action. When water reaches ruptures in the stem it leaks out and freezes instantly. As more and more water moves up through the stem, the ice is forced away from the plant and into an infinite number of odd shapes. Frost flowers are exceedingly fragile and the "petals" often break when touched and disappear the moment they're exposed to the first rays of the morning Sun.

This picture and its explanation are from the Earth Science Picture of the Day.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-19-2009, 12:44 AM

Would have made a good IOtD.

When I first saw that I was clicking through the "new posts" list, and didn't realise it is the IOtD.

hipshot · 04-19-2009, 01:47 AM

That is SO cool!

Stormieweather · 04-19-2009, 08:26 AM

That's amazing. I wonder what size it is? I see leaves, but can't tell what kind to determine an approximate size.

richlevy · 04-19-2009, 08:45 AM

Absolutely beautiful.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-19-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

That's amazing. I wonder what size it is? I see leaves, but can't tell what kind to determine an approximate size.

It's about 12 times the diameter of the stem just above the "flower".

I think that stem would have to be 1/4" diameter minimum, and could be as much as 3/4" or more. But for shits & giggles calling it 1/2" would make the bloom about 6".

Of course if the ribbons of the bloom were unfurled, it would be feetses.

Tulip · 04-20-2009, 12:19 AM

That is one cool picture.

Sheldonrs · 04-21-2009, 09:30 AM

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!! THE TRIFFIDS ARE BACK!!!!

Gravdigr · 04-21-2009, 09:30 PM

Yeah, that's the trouble with triffids. (See what I did there?)

Kingswood · 04-22-2009, 07:20 AM

It's hard to see the structure in that photo. Is it in the form of ribbons or is it more like fine threads?

SPUCK · 04-23-2009, 05:19 AM

There's a tingler in there too!!

04-19-2009, 12:44 AM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Would have made a good IOtD. When I first saw that I was clicking through the "new posts" list, and didn't realise it is the IOtD. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. Last edited by xoxoxoBruce; 04-19-2009 at 01:36 AM.

04-19-2009, 01:47 AM	#3
hipshot Enlarged to show texture Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 80	That is SO cool! __________________ "When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car."

04-19-2009, 08:26 AM	#4
Stormieweather Wearing her bitch boots Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Floriduh Posts: 1,181	That's amazing. I wonder what size it is? I see leaves, but can't tell what kind to determine an approximate size. __________________ "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

04-19-2009, 08:45 AM	#5
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Absolutely beautiful. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

04-21-2009, 09:30 AM	#8
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!! THE TRIFFIDS ARE BACK!!!! __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

04-20-2009, 12:19 AM	#7
Tulip Professor Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,293	That is one cool picture.

04-21-2009, 09:30 PM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Yeah, that's the trouble with triffids. (See what I did there?) __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

04-22-2009, 07:20 AM	#10
Kingswood Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Melbourne, Vic Posts: 316	It's hard to see the structure in that photo. Is it in the form of ribbons or is it more like fine threads? __________________ Ur is a city in Mesopotamia.

04-23-2009, 05:19 AM	#11
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	There's a tingler in there too!!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)