iREAD: SKELETON FLOWER

Diphylleia grayi or also known as the Skeleton flower is a beautiful flower and considered to be an extraordinary plant. It can grow up to a height of 0.4 meters with white petals that turn transparent upon contact with water. The bizarre transformation occurs when these flowers are soaked in water. Its petals slowly begin to lose their white pigmentation once wet, turning completely transparent over time. They return to its original white version when dry. How cool is that?

It is recognizable by its large, umbrella-shaped leaves that are topped with small clusters of pearly white flowers. The plant evolved as a deciduous perennial and like any other flowers, they die back in winter. They usually bloom from May to July in shady conditions.

Of course as a flower lover like me, I immediately search the place/s where I could possibly find these here in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the plant can be found growing mostly on moist, wooded mountainsides in the colder regions of Japan and China part. These regions provide the wood habitat necessary for skeleton flower to grow. Okay, not in Philippines. Got it!

Nature never ceases to amaze us. Did you know of a flower that turns from pure white to transparent when it comes into contact with water? And when the leaves dry out, the flower turns back to their original white version! Magical isn’t it?