See life in red

See the wonder and glory of nature through the prism of a single colour
                                       See life in red

                                   1.Long headed poppies (credit: niall benvie / NPL)

In nature, red is often evocative of autumn, and sometimes danger. However crimson poppy fields are one of nature’s most stunning and emotive sights, because of their association with the end of WW1 when swathes of them grew up out of devastated battle fields.

2.Fly agaric fungus (credit: richard becker / Alamy)

In autumn, scarlet coloured mushrooms pepper forest floors. The iconic fly ageric (Amanita muscaria), distinctive with its crimson cap and white spots, looks like the stuff of fairytales. As attractive as it may look, this fungus is poisonous to humans but is munched by some rodents.

3.Scarlet hood mushrooms (credit: photoshot holdings ltd / Alamy)

Scarlet hood - or waxcap - fungi are found in North America and Europe, in woodlands and man-made green patches such as lawns and in graveyards. The mushroom fruits from late summer - the cap is initially bright red before fading to yellow around the edges.

4.Virginia creeper leaf (credit: point-of-view / Alamy)

Virginia creepers turn bright scarlet in autumn. This species may be beautiful, but its ability to grow and spread almost anywhere means it often kills other plants in its path.

5.Strawberry poison dart frog (credit: edwin giesbers / NPL)

Strawberry poison dart frogs’ colouration warns predators they are highly poisonous. These small frogs are found in rainforests and are often scarlet with blue legs although they can vary in colour – including blue, white, green, black and orange.

6.Red-and-green macaw (credit: hermann brehm / NPL)

Another conspicuous, rainforest dwelling animal are parrots, such as the red and green macaw, pictured. These birds boast loud colours as well as voices, but can stay surprisingly well camouflaged in forest fauna.

7.Tomato frog (credit: alex hyde / NPL)

The tomato frog, found in Madagascar, is another species which is thought to ward away danger by its brilliant colouration, which tells predators it is toxic. These amphibians have another secret weapon - they secrete a sticky, off-putting substance secreted from their skin.

8.Red dahlia petals (credit: david shaw / Alamy)

Colour in flowers is formed by reflected light from plant pigments which include a group of compounds called anthocyanidins. Colours attract pollinating insects, although their perception of colouration may be different to ours.

9.Hotlips flower (credit: buiten-beeld / Alamy)

Hotlips grows in the Amazon rainforest and in Central America and is one of the world’s most striking plants, with its resemblance to puckered lips. It is used in some places as a traditional medicine.

10.Cherries (credit: thomas lazar / NPL)

The iconic red of cherries is imitated extensively in the man made world. The appearance of punnets of cherries in the shops is synonymous with summer.

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