Huntington Library --- Conservatory/Plant Lab/flowers

Huntington>Conservatory>Plant Lab>Flower> Flower Types by Pollen Vector

Flowers Flowers are a group of highly specialized structures used in the sexual reproduction of angiosperms. Every aspect of a flower (appearance, scent, pollen, nectar, etc.) is adapted for efficient pollination to produce seeds.

Wind: Random, inefficient. Inconspicuous flowers, tend to have multiple inflorescences. Copious amounts of pollen.
Maize is a wind-pollinated monoecious flowering plant. LEFT: male flowers in cluster (tassles) on top of the plant; RIGHT: female flowers with long stigmas (silk) at the lower part of the plant.		Wind-pollinated flowers Reduced or absent perianth; well exserted (protruding) stamen and style; long and narrow filaments; abundant small dry pollen; large number of female flowers; large stigmas, usually branched or feathery; ovary with single ovule. Examples: many grasses, maize, willow, oak.
Animal Vectors: Need attractions and "bribes" (i.e. food). Flowers need to be conspicuous in form, color and fragrance in order to advertise to their specific pollinators.
A bee visits a puya flower.	Bees The most important pollinator. Attracted by sight and smell; perceive ultraviolet but not red; short tongue; need to land to feed; high energy demand.	Bee flowers Usually irregular in shape; bright colors, usually blue or yellow; moderate amounts of nectar; have nectar guides; sweet fragrance; shallow or broad entrance; stigma usually protrudes beyond stamens; landing platform formed by corolla. Examples: Orchid, pea, pitcher plant.
Magnolias are pollinated by beetles.	Beetles Poor fliers; poor vision; good sense of smell; feed on pollen and other floral parts.	Beetle flowers Large single flower or inflorescence; not much visual attraction, pale-colored perianth (white or pastel); pungent fruity smells; many floral parts, especially stamens and pistils; inferior ovaries. Examples: Amorphophallus, magnolia, water lily.
A butterfly is feeding with its long proboscis.	Butterflies (and diurnal moths) Attracted by sight and smell; some species can see red; need to land to feed; have long and narrow tongue (proboscis); nectar as major food source; high energy demand.	Butterfly flowers Bright colors, some red (including pure red) and orange; landing platform formed by corolla or clusters of flowers; long, narrow tubular corolla, or open tubular corolla with nectar spur; nectar at the base of tube or spur; abundant nectar with nectar guides; large and sticky pollen; stigma well protruding. Examples: many composite flowers, milkweed.
Angraecum sesquipedale is pollinated by the giant hawk moth.	Moths (nocturnal) Active at night; good sense of smell; hover well. Butterflies or moths?	Moth flowers May open only at night; white to cream colors; strong, sweet fragrance after sunset; large and sticky pollen; stigma well protruding. Examples: Darwin's orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale), banana, mango.
A bird visits a Kniphofia (torch lily) flower.	Birds Poor sense of smell; feed on nectar, floral parts and insects in flowers.	Bird flowers Very colorful, usually red and yellow; large single flower or large inflorescenes; little or no fragrance; copious, watery nectar with nectar guides. Examples: passion flower, fuchsia, hibiscus, some columbines.
A hummingbird visits a Protea.	Hummingbirds The major bird pollinators in North and South America. Perceive red and yellow well; good at hovering; long bill; high energy demand.	Hummingbird flowers Usually red and yellow; large and tubular; horizontal or hanging, without landing platform; no fragrance; rich in nectar at the tube base or nectar spur; nectar guides; stamens well protruding; stigma even further protruding; inferior ovary. Examples: Fuchsia, hibiscus, some columbines.
Stapelia (starfish) flowers attract flies.	Flies As important a pollinator as bees in certain conditions. Feed on nectar; do not gather pollen.	Fly flowers Some beetles like sweet fragrance and nectar reward: flowers have accessible nectar, usually with nectar guides; well exposed stamens and pistils. Others like putrid ordor: rotten-meat smell; flowers usually have "traps" to prevent flies from leaving too soon (bristles, patterns, particular flower shapes). Examples: Amorphophallus, some orchids, stepelia, euphobia.
Strawbery snowballs, Dombeya cacuminum, are pollinated by bats.	Bats Nocturnal; attracted by smell	Bat flowers Mostly dull-colored and open at night; strong fruity or musty smells; large single flower or large inflorescenes; copious, watery nectar with nectar guides. Examples: Osa pulchra, Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana).