Zinnias and Pre-bloom Bract

Photographer: Menashe Davidson Summary Author: Menashe Davidson The zinnia plant is a very popular choice in gardening, both for home and public settings. Its blooms are striking as seen in the top photo. While many observers may focus on the...

Photographer: Menashe DavidsonSummary Author: Menashe Davidson

The zinnia plant is a very popular choice in gardening, both for home and public settings. Its blooms are striking as seen in the top photo. While many observers may focus on the fully opened flowers, there are indeed some curious flower enthusiasts who also appreciate the pre-bloom bract patterns surrounding the flower buds (bottom photo).

Zinnias belong to the Asteraceae family and produce vibrant flowers in a wide range of colors. Before these flowers fully open, they are enclosed by bracts, which are modified leaves that protect the developing bud. While watching the Zinnia plants in my home garden, I was attracted by the pre-bloom bud's bract patterns. Patterns created by the black borders on the edge of the bracts are exposed to the observer in different formal structures related to their bud developing stage, from a closed bud, through the process of its opening and eventually to the appearance of the first flower petals. Photo taken on June 30, 2023. 

 

Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates: 31.9730, 34.7925

Related Link:Development of a Zinnia Flower