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 Brunfelsia: Nature Works Its Magic

By Shlomo Maital  

           Each early morning, when I take our little mixed-breed Yorkie for her walk, I say hello to our blossoming hedge.  

            And it’s magical.

             Brunfelsia pauciflora.  An unassuming little hedge that does an incredible magic trick. 

              When it blossoms in Spring, as it does now, its flowers emerge in day one as violet in color.  By day three, the flowers are purple and some of them have turned white.  

               Nature has figured out how to turn purple flowers into white.

                Naturally, scientists had to figure out why and how.  It has to do with “anthocyanin degradation”.  Anthocyanin is a protein in the flowers’ pigment.  Water, temperature, light and pollinating bees and insects act to degrade this protein, and as it degrades, the purple turns white. 

                 Things in Nature don’t just happen.  It must be evolution at work here.  But why?  I think that this sleight of hand magic trick gives Brunfelsia an advantage.  Some pollinators are more attracted to the blue flowers.   Some are more attracted to white flowers.  The combination gets more pollinators than just blue or white alone. 

                 Brunfelsia originated in Brazil and is also known as Brazil raintree.  Other names for it (you could look it up) are:  today, tomorrow, together;  morning, noon and night; kiss me quick. 

                 Take your pick!   Any flowering hedge that turns purple to white deserves a catchy name.