AMAZING milkweed! For pollination to succeed (and to get a sip of - TopicsExpress



          

AMAZING milkweed! For pollination to succeed (and to get a sip of tasty nectar), an insect struggles to get a grip on this slippery flower. Sure footing is found in the slits between each nectar cup. As its foot slides up and down the slit, it wedges into the black clamp at the top. Now for a juicy drink, slurp, mmmm! ... Later working its feet free, out comes two yellow pollen bags hanging down from each foot. ... Onto the next flower and its feet slide up and down the slits. The pollen bags break off and are left behind. Then the pollen grains must grow tubes which travel down, each joining with an ovule for fertilization. Seeds and pods develop from the ovary. How can we ever look at milkweed the same?! (info from the book Milkweed by Millicent E. Selsam)
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 16:12:48 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015