Re: HYB: Pollination vectors
- To:
- Subject: Re: HYB: Pollination vectors
- From: J* a* C* W*
- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 08:25:54 -0700
From: "Jeff and Carolyn Walters" <jcwalters@bridgernet.com>
Jim,
Black-chinned Hummingbirds (Archilochus alexandri), the only species that
nests locally, do visit TB iris blooms here. Their contact time is very
brief, so I am not sure if they are feeding from the flowers or merely
inspecting them. I have not taken note of color preferences.
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 2)
jcwalters@bridgernet.com
----------
> From: James Brooks <hirundo@tricon.net>
> To: iris-talk@onelist.com
> Cc: TLCabral@aol.com
> Subject: [iris-talk] HYB: Pollination vectors
> Date: Thursday, January 28, 1999 7:18 AM
>
> From: James Brooks <hirundo@tricon.net>
>
> I would be interested in any observations any of you might make in the
> garden this summer of hummingbirds (or possibly orioles) engaged in
> nectar gathering (and thereby pollination) from iris. I would be
> particularly interested in the following supplemental data:
>
> 1. type or variety of iris visited (color and fragrance are what I'm
> looking for in variety, but also type, i.e. tall bearded vs. Louisiana is
> important).
>
> 2. species of bird if possible (east coasters have only the ruby-throated
> hummingbird, but for those in the west or southwest, any descriptive info
> would be interesting but not required).
>
> 3. Whether or not you have a sugar-water hummingbird feeder hanging in
> your garden.
>
> The genus iris is predominately a Eurasian temperate zone flower,
> presumably dependent on the Eurasian honeybee (Apis mellifera) as a
> pollination vector. Hummingbirds and icterine orioles only exist in the
> Americas (although sunbirds and oriolus orioles are in some parts of the
> native range), so I'm interested in seeing whether our hummers have
> adapted to this nectar source that does not normally show reds - the
> hummer's most attractive color.
>
> I already have a theory, but no data. I am particularly interested in
> observations from you Louisiana growers because I'm intrigued that we
> have red in I. fulva, an American native species within the hummingbird's
> range. In the <italic>World of Iris</italic>, oriole damage is mentioned
> as a garden pest within the flower's native range, which means orioles
> may also be pollination vectors.
>
>
> Eventually I knew my interest in ornithology would cross-pollinate into
> iris.
>
>
>
>
> James Brooks
>
> Jonesborough, TN
>
> hirundo@tricon.net
>
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