Aristolochia arborea flowers, Central America
Mushroom gnats look for particular types of fungi on which to lay their eggs. Aristolochia arborea imitate one of these mushrooms perfectly, even under the microscope the surface of the false mushroom is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Aristolochia has to make such a perfect impression or the mushroom gnats won’t land to lay eggs. When they do they slide off the slippery surface, get caught in the trap behind the false mushroom, and pollinate the flower.
Aristolochia double-crosses its pollinators. They fertilize it and receive nothing in exchange, no pollen, no nectar, not even a place to lay their eggs. Only the plant benefits from this one-sided relationship.
Aristolochia arborea flowers, Central America
Mushroom gnats look for particular types of fungi on which to lay their eggs. Aristolochia arborea imitate one of these mushrooms perfectly, even under the microscope the surface of the false mushroom is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Aristolochia has to make such a perfect impression or the mushroom gnats won’t land to lay eggs. When they do they slide off the slippery surface, get caught in the trap behind the false mushroom, and pollinate the flower.
Aristolochia double-crosses its pollinators. They fertilize it and receive nothing in exchange, no pollen, no nectar, not even a place to lay their eggs. Only the plant benefits from this one-sided relationship.