Re: HYB: OK, now for the pollen...
- To:
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] HYB: OK, now for the pollen...
- From: J* a* C* W*
- Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 13:38:28 -0600
> From: amyr@jump.net
>
> I have always been under the impression that the pollen is on
> the beards -- on the top of them, that is, so that when a bug
> climbs in it gets pollen on its front end and then bumps the
> stamen. Stamen I have NO trouble recognizing.
Amy,
The beard is just a doormat for the bumblebees; it plays no direct role in
fertilization and seed production. The pollen is borne on the stamens, not
transferred to them. To secure fertilization and seed development the
pollen must be transferred from the stamen to the stigmatic lip, which is
located on the under side of the stigma above and behind the stamen (i.e.,
futher away from the center of the flower than the stamen). In natural
pollination, a large insect (typically a bumblebee) will land on the fall
petal, follow the path marked by the beard into the heart of the flower
seeking nectar and have pollen from the stamen brushed on its back as it
does so. As the bee backs out of the flower it may come in contact with the
under side of the stigmatic lip which is hinged and folds upward when
pressed from below, thereby protecting its upper side, which is where the
pollen must be deposited, from contact with the pollen that the bee has
just picked up, and thus avoiding self fertilization.
When the bee flies to another flower and tries to enter it, its back comes
in contact with the rim of the stigmatic lip, which now folds downward as
the bee pushes forward into the heart of the flower and pollen on its back
is brushed off on the upper surface of the stigmatic lip, thus completing
the process of pollination.
I believe the pollination process is illustrated on one of the iris-related
websites, but I can't recall which one.
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 2, AHS Zone 7)
jcwalters@bridgernet.com
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