tdwrsa-2
a pollination story...
When taking pictures the other day of a wild orchid (Bonatea Antennifera - Grassveld Woodorchid) I noticed these little structures glued to my hand. Asking people in the know I discovered that these orchids have a strong scent in the evening, attracting Hawkmoths. When the orchid flower senses a moth it releases this structure called a pollinium with pollen at the one end and glue at the other end. It sticks to the moth's eye and off he/she goes to another plant, performing pollination. The flower did not realize though that I'm not a moth.
a pollination story...
When taking pictures the other day of a wild orchid (Bonatea Antennifera - Grassveld Woodorchid) I noticed these little structures glued to my hand. Asking people in the know I discovered that these orchids have a strong scent in the evening, attracting Hawkmoths. When the orchid flower senses a moth it releases this structure called a pollinium with pollen at the one end and glue at the other end. It sticks to the moth's eye and off he/she goes to another plant, performing pollination. The flower did not realize though that I'm not a moth.