Bee Pollination
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Bee Pollination
- From: "* E* &* S* E* <a*@sympatico.ca>
- Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 08:55:23 -0600 (MDT)
It is assumed that the bearded irises in the wild are naturally
fertilized by bumble bees, not honey bees. This would explain why the
one bearded iris in Kashmir does not produce seeds and appears to be
distributed culturally as there are no bumble bees on the Indian
sub-continent. I have bee pollinated TB irises each year, although I do
not collect the seeds. One reason might be that I have a number of very
large annual Impatiens growing in my garden and they attract a great
number of bumble bees. The flowers of this Impatiens are pale purple
and the plant grows to about 6ft and 4ft across. It flowers profusely
and is very attractive. the ony problem is that is produces many seeds
and will spread everywhere without judicious weeding each spring.
Unfortunately, I have forgotten the common name of this plant but would
recommend it to anyone interested in preserving the bumble bee
populations.
Ian, in Ottawa
