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-   -   April 19, 2009: Frost Flower (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=20106)

Pie 04-19-2009 12:13 AM

April 19, 2009: Frost Flower
 
Is that some sort of pulled-sugar-taffy-like concoction?


http://cellar.org/2009/Frost_Flower.jpg

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.

:lol2: When I first saw that I was clicking through the "new posts" list, and didn't realise it is the IOtD. :blush:

hipshot 04-19-2009 01:47 AM

That is SO cool! :thumb2:

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 (Post 557753)
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".

http://cellar.org/2009/width.jpg

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. :haha:

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!!


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