Re: HYB: OK, now for the pollen...
I have some pictures on my web site that may help. Go to:
http://members.home.net/jijones/People/Hyb%20-%201.htm
John
Jeff and Carolyn Walters wrote:
>
> > 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
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Was the salesman clueless? Productopia has the answers.
> http://click.egroups.com/1/3019/0/_/486170/_/957037000/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
John | "There be dragons here"
| Annotation used by ancient cartographers
| to indicate the edge of the known world.
________________________________________________
USDA zone 8/9 (coastal, bay)
Fremont, California, USA
Visit my website at:
http://members.home.net/jijones
President, Westbay Iris Society
Director, Region 14 of the AIS
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Was the salesman clueless? Productopia has the answers.
http://click.egroups.com/1/3019/0/_/486170/_/957070668/
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