HansHolt
bi water lily: male phase
Canon EOS 300D - f/6.3 - 1/1000sec - 100mm - ISO 100
The very interesting bi life of a water lily.
- Each flower has many petals surrounding both male and female reproductive parts, and is only open during the daytime for three days.
- Female day:
see: flic.kr/p/H14dpD
On the first morning, the flowers produce a fluid in the cup-like center and are receptive to pollen from other flowers. However, they are not yet releasing pollen themselves. Pollen-covered insects are attracted by the sweet smell, but the flower is designed so that when they enter the flower, they fall into the fluid. This washes the pollen off their bodies and onto the female flower parts (stigmas) causing fertilization.
- Male days:
On the second and the third days, the flowers are no longer receptive to pollen, and no fluid is produced. Instead, pollen is released from the stamens (the flexible yellow match-shaped structures in the flower center). Visiting insects pick up the pollen and transport it to flowers in the first day of the flowering cycle.
- After the three days the flowers are brought under water by coiling their stalks. The seeds mature under water and after several weeks are released into the water.
bi water lily: male phase
Canon EOS 300D - f/6.3 - 1/1000sec - 100mm - ISO 100
The very interesting bi life of a water lily.
- Each flower has many petals surrounding both male and female reproductive parts, and is only open during the daytime for three days.
- Female day:
see: flic.kr/p/H14dpD
On the first morning, the flowers produce a fluid in the cup-like center and are receptive to pollen from other flowers. However, they are not yet releasing pollen themselves. Pollen-covered insects are attracted by the sweet smell, but the flower is designed so that when they enter the flower, they fall into the fluid. This washes the pollen off their bodies and onto the female flower parts (stigmas) causing fertilization.
- Male days:
On the second and the third days, the flowers are no longer receptive to pollen, and no fluid is produced. Instead, pollen is released from the stamens (the flexible yellow match-shaped structures in the flower center). Visiting insects pick up the pollen and transport it to flowers in the first day of the flowering cycle.
- After the three days the flowers are brought under water by coiling their stalks. The seeds mature under water and after several weeks are released into the water.