Forrest_Imagery

Flamed Heart

A little something for Valentines Day.

A heart shape found on a Flame Tulip.

The streaks found on some tulips and lilies is actually ...
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A little something for Valentines Day.

A heart shape found on a Flame Tulip.

The streaks found on some tulips and lilies is actually caused by a virus called Tulip Breaking Virus (TBV).
The virus infects the bulb and causes the cultivar to "break" its lock on a single color, resulting in intricate bars, stripes, streaks, featherings or flame-like effects of different colors on the petals.
The virus also weakens the bulb and retards the plant's propagation through offset growths; as it progresses through each generation the bulb grows stunted and weak.
Eventually it has no strength to flower, and either breaks apart or withers away, ending the genetic line.
For this reason the most famous examples of tulips from color broken bulbs – the Semper Augustus and the Viceroy – no longer exist
(1)

(1)en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_breaking_virus

North Texas, Spring 2016
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