Gladiolus carneus presented by modern technology

Technology is a wonderful asset for sharing flower reproductions! The Gladiolus carneus flower’s looks have brought it a range of names, including white Afrikaner and pink Afrikaner. This is informative, as different plants of the species produce pink or white flowers.

Photos can, however, simultaneously be confusing or misleading, called fake news these days in the evolving language. The same cell phone has delivered both flower photos given here from a Betty’s Bay hike. Same plant, same flower, different colours!

We can trust the colours of reproductions delivered by our technologies (and our books) only up to a point. The classic Greek philosophers warned against trusting our senses long before such technologies or books existed. And memory can’t be trusted when buying paint for touching up a wall at home (Marais, (Ed.), 2017; Manning, 2009; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).