Two Coloured Flower

Dilute red and green fountain pen inks with water and fill two glass tubes each with one colour. Split the stem of a flower with white petals, e.g. a dahlia, rose or carnation, and place one end in each tube. The fine veins of the plant soon become coloured, and after several hours the flower is half-red and half blue.

The coloured liquid rises through the hair-fine channels by which, the water and food are transported. The dye is stored in the petals while most of the water is again given off.