Publication Date:
Wed, 2011-07-06 22:55
Scientists say the iridescence of tulips and other plants is aimed at catching the attention of busy pollinators.
The flowers create the shimmery effect because the minuscule striations on their surface act like micro-grooves on a CD, whose light changes depending on its angle.
So far researchers have established that bees can tell iridescent flowers from non-iridescent ones, and they suspect bees may prefer the flashier flowers.
The principle was one of several scientific discoveries being shown off this week at the Royal Society’s summer science exhibition in central London.
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