What is this plant, and why does it have bright purple spots? (i.imgur.com)

submitted 1 year ago by Sal@mander.xyz to c/plantid@mander.xyz

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

There were a few of these plants next to each other, but not all of them had this bright purple coloration. I suppose there might be an acidic spot by the roots, but I'm not sure.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] PanaX@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

Often, plants use a pigment called anthocyanin. This is used in flowers as an attractant for bees but also used in leaves as a sun screen. In intense light conditions the plant will use it to protect the interior vascular systems from sun damage.

[-] Sal@mander.xyz 3 points 1 year ago

Interesting - so maybe these pigments showed up in response to strong light?

[-] tierelantijntje@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago

They do! Might be that this plant has a genetic variegation that causes it to be more red than it's neighbors. This plant is a delicious substitute for spinach by the way :)

this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2023

23 points (100.0% liked)

What's this Plant?

1156 readers

1 users here now

Welcome to c/plantid @ Mander.xyz!

AKA What's this plant?

Notice Board

2023-06-16: Feel free to resubmit your images if the ID bot is not triggered while we test the bot. If uploading does not work, try uploading on imgur. The URL of the image needs to be placed in the URL of the post.
2023-06-15: ID Bot v1.0 is up and working. Ongoing testing. Please ignore the test posts.
2023-06-13: We are looking for mods. Send a dm to @fossilesque@mander.xyz if interested! This community is a work in progress, stay tuned while we build the ID bot and set up shop.

About

Whether you're seeking help with identifying a particular plant or eager to share your own findings, our community is here to offer support and foster a love for exploration. We believe in collaborative and inclusive learning, providing guidance, and celebrating the joy of discovery as we deepen our understanding of the natural world.

Rules

Don't throw mud. Be kind and remember the human.
Keep it rooted (on topic).
No spam.

The Bot

How to Use:

Upload your image and place the URL in the URL line of the post. The comments are not set up yet nor is post body.

Tips:

Isolate a feature of the plant, such as a leaf or a flower, for best ID.

Open Source Code:

GitHub

Get involved in Citizen Science: Add your photo here to help build a database of plants across the entire planet. This database is used by non-profits, academia, and the sciences to promote biodiversity, learning and rewilding.

Resources