Stacked scattering: The key to bright flowers lies in the mesophyll.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

The coloration of flowers is caused by wavelength-selective absorption by pigments and scattering of light by floral structures. Although the molecular, physiological, and chemical properties of floral pigments have been studied in considerable detail, how floral structures contribute to the visual signal remains largely unknown. A flower can be considered as a stack of layers, where each layer is characterized by specific pigmentation and scattering properties. Quantifying the contribution of different floral layers to visual signalling aids our understanding of the origin and maintenance of Earth's resplendent flora.

Methods

We quantified the contribution of the cuticle, epidermal cell layer, and the mesophyll to the reflection of light by flowers for nasturtium (T

SUBMITTER: De Paola L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816439 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature