The Magical Transformation
of the Skeleton Flower
True beauty often lies hidden. Only in special moments does it reveal itself to us—like the skeleton flower, which, in a magical natural spectacle, transforms from an almost inconspicuous little bloom into a graceful beauty.
(Flora & Fauna) The skeleton flower, known by its botanical name Diphylleia grayi, would not be done justice by merely calling it a wonder of nature. There is something enchanting about its silent transformation. This botanical rarity thrives in the cool, damp mountain forests of Japan and China, where the sun is a seldom visitor. Its leaves grow large and shaped like umbrellas, whereas its flowers are white, delicate, and almost filigree.
As soon as raindrops touch its dainty blossoms, however, an extraordinary phenomenon occurs: The flower reveals its inner beauty. Its petals become gradually transparent, as if they were made of the fine crystal, revealing a delicate web of veins reminiscent of a skeletal structure–hence the rather unpoetic name.
This fascinating natural phenomenon is due to the skeleton flower’s unique cellular structure. When water seeps into the air-filled spaces between its cells, the air is displaced, altering the refraction of light—an effect that gives it the appearance of a glass-like structure. However, as soon as the petals dry, they return to their original milky-white hue. Why the skeleton flower undergoes this transformation is not yet known. But its magic transcends its natural habitat. Scientists have begun to apply its fascinating properties to modern technologies. Inspired by the transparent metamorphosis of this plant, temperature-dependent nanofiber membranes have been developed which redirect light in innovative ways.
Even if this transformation were to serve no purpose at all, it nevertheless symbolizes the ever-changing beauty of nature. And a new story is told with every shower of rain.