Also known as themarble berry, this fascinating perennial plant grows in the forests of Central Africa.
Growing up to 3 feet tall, the plant sprouts clusters of up to 40 electric blue berries.
So what accounts for the marble berry’s striking appearance?
Photo:Juliano Costa,CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In 2012, researchers from the UKpublished a studythat revealed the mystery behind the plant’s shininess.
Most plants rely on pigments for their color, but not the marble berry.
Its smooth surface is reflective, just like a mirror.
And just below the surface sit multiple layers of special cells made from cellulose fibers.
These layers reflect a narrow wavelength of light, and each layer is slightly rotated, like a spiral.
When light hits the top layer, some is reflected, and the rest passes through.
This light then filters down through the remaining layers, like a sieve.
The light reflected through each layer is exceptionally bright and produces strong colors in an effect known asBragg reflection.
Interestingly, these shiny baubles aren’t edible.
The berries effectively act as a husk and are filled with seeds.
This is also part of the reason that they are so durable, retaining their shape for years.
Birds mistakenly munch on marble berries, helping spread their seeds.
