Re: HYB: bee pods
- Subject: Re: [iris-photos] HYB: bee pods
- From: o*@aol.com
- Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 00:13:37 EDT
The structure of the iris bloom does not easily allow for bee pollination.
The stigma and stigmatic lip in most bearded irises is located well away from
the anthers. Bees being somewhat famous for efficiency have no reason to
visit the stigma. Additionally the lip itself stays closed or nearly closed
during most of the blooms fertile period serving more as a barrier to
pollination than as a facilitator. Bumble Bees being taller or having greater
wing turbulence may be more capable of pollinating blooms. I suspect, but do
not know for a certainty, that insect pollination when it does occur is done
more often by insects other than bees. I have observed insects eating pollen
and higher concentrations of smaller insects in the immediate vicinity of the
stigmatic lip of irises under attack by rot. I further suspect that wind is
far more responsible for inadvertant/random pollination when it does occure.
This conjecture is based purely on the structure of the bloom. Following the
bloom season, counting irises here and those in friends gardens, I view about
1200 different TBI's. Of these, last year, I saw two cultivars that had set
accidental seed pods. Of these two cultivars one had pods that contained no
seeds. The year before I saw none. In my part of the world inadvertant
pollination of TBI's is a non issue.
Weighin' in without scales or balance,
Bill Burleson 7a/b
Old South Iris Society
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[PHOTO] HYB: Seedling 98T2-01