Allen's Hummingbird
The nectar of tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) is composed of a particularly bitter combination of nicotine and anabasine – and yet hummingbirds continually visit this plant and are it's major pollinator in California. The mixture of chemicals in the nectar affects the hummingbird's memory*
What does a plant whose nectar is bitter do to make pollinators return to visit its flowers and thereby ensure the plant’s continued propagation? Apparently it may cause its pollinators to forget the bitter taste of the nectar.
Allen's Hummingbird
The nectar of tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) is composed of a particularly bitter combination of nicotine and anabasine – and yet hummingbirds continually visit this plant and are it's major pollinator in California. The mixture of chemicals in the nectar affects the hummingbird's memory*
What does a plant whose nectar is bitter do to make pollinators return to visit its flowers and thereby ensure the plant’s continued propagation? Apparently it may cause its pollinators to forget the bitter taste of the nectar.