Scientists estimate that there are some 390,000 plant species, of which the great majority—some 370,000 species—are angiosperms, or flowering plants. Most of us can name a dozen or more flowers by sight, such as rose, lily, tulip, violet, and so on . Your local florist can possibly identify scores more, and botanists can probably name several hundred. Among so many possible varieties of flowers, there is only one known that, when wet, becomes nearly invisible . Though scientifically known as Diphylleia grayi, it is called the white woodland blossom by most plant lovers. More interestingly, it is nicknamed the “skeleton flower” due to the way its blossoms seem to disappear whenever it rains.
Found in temperate mountainous woodlands in East Asia, especially Japan, and the Appalachian mountain range in the eastern United States, the rare white woodland blossom is easily identified. At least, that is, when it isn’t raining. The plant has large, umbrella-shaped leaves. Its opaque, white flowers stand out in the otherwise verdant green of a forest. That sounds common enough, so why the name skeleton flower?
The flowers of the plant have a loose cell structure. When it rains, water fills the cells of the petals. Since water is colorless, the flower turns colorless, too. Due to their veiny structure, the water makes them look similar to an ice sculpture. Ice is, of course, transparent , too. Don’t worry about the “disappearance” of the petals. After a rainfall, the water drains and evaporates , returning the flower to its original snow-white appearance.
From May until early fall, the white woodland blossom puts on its unusual show. That should give you plenty of time to go hiking and look for one of nature’s true wonders.
1. Where among the following areas would white woodland blossoms most likely be found?
2. Why is the plant species known scientifically as Diphylleia grayi so unusual?
(A) It was the first angiosperm to be discovered by botanists.
(B) Its smell is distinctive and is like no other flowers in the world.
(C) Its leaves are the largest among the plants found in temperate areas.
(D) It is the only known plant whose petals become transparent in rain.
3. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the white woodland blossom?
(A) The plant is a kind of angiosperm.
(B) The plant is also known as the skeleton flower.
(C) The leaves of the plant seem to vanish when it rains.
(D) The leaves of the plant form the shape of an umbrella.
4. What happens to the white woodland blossom when it rains?
(A) The rainwater evaporates as soon as it touches the flower.
(B) The rainwater cools down the flower and turns it into ice.
(C) The rainwater gets in the cells of the flower’s petals.
(D) The rainwater dissolves the petals of the flower.
