Rain-lily detail

Click for greater clarity.

Yesterday’s post showed a rain-lily, Cooperia pedunculata, that recent rains had caused to flower on July 13th. Rain-lilies last only a few days, and no sooner is one of these flowers fully open than its pristine white begins to take on a pink tinge, as you see in this close view; from here the coloration will quickly darken and signal the flower’s demise. Tinge aside, I’ll add that the tepal looks to me as if it were made of snow or ice.

© 2012 Steven Schwartzman