The Native Pollenist

Native Bees, Native Buds. A spread-the-word blog where I share resources and articles about native pollinators and plants, their importance, and how YOU can get involved and help them! As well as various other photographs and environmental conservation and sustainability goodies. Disclaimer : I am only affiliated with the organizations I post from by support or membership- I do not work for them (as much as I'd love to!)

[native-pollenist]

It's herbarium mounting day! Was happy to find these two Phacelias together when I was collecting- they show the variability in the leaves, but both still keyed to the same species. (the coins are weighing down flyaways while the glue dries) Phacelia sericea, "purple fringe" or "silky phacelia" is in the Hydrophyllaceae, "waterleaf" family. They all have inflorescences that start out coiled up and unfurl as they mature and bloom. Their showy purple sprays are common in subalpine and alpine Meadows during mid and late summer.

[touchstonetouch]

Female Puriri Moth vibrating. 

[archaicwonder]

Greek Bee Fibula, 4th century BC

The bee, found in the artifacts of Ancient Near East and Aegean cultures, was believed to be the sacred insect that bridged the natural world to the underworld.

Potnia, the Minoan-Mycenaean “mistress” goddess,  was referred to as “The Pure Mother Bee”. Her priestesses received the name of “Melissa” (“bee”). It is interesting to note that Mycenaean tholos tombs were shaped like beehives.

In another myth, the Homeric Hymn to Apollo acknowledges that Apollo’s gift of prophecy first came to him from three bee maidens, usually identified with the Thriae. The Thriae was a trinity of pre-Hellenic Aegean bee goddesses.

[biodiverseed]

I previously thought these-pink-flowering strawberries were strictly ornamental: but lo and behold - fruit!

Pink-flowering strawberries are hybrids between Strawberries (Fragaria sp.) and Cinquefoil (Comarum sp.). They flower constantly from Spring to Autumn, so I grow them primarily for the attraction of pollinators, rather than for their sparse fruits.

I grew this patch from three runners pruned off of a relative’s plant last year: I am guessing they are ‘Pink Panda,’ which is a patented variety resulting from a cross between Fragaria × ananassa subsp. cuneifolia, and Marsh Cinquefoil, (Comarum palustre). So, don’t tell any plant breeders I took advantage of their natural multiplication without paying royalties!

#strawberries #the commons

[dendroica]

bee, m, angle, south africa, wcp_2014-08-06-17.52.08 ZS PMax by Sam Droege on Flickr.

Amegilla species, Unknown Banded Bee, collected in South Africa by Laurence Packer

Banded Bees are a diverse group, occurring in lands all across the Old World and Australia. Asian and Australian groups tend to be more of the “Blue-banded” variety while in the Eastern part of their range they more often than not lack any blue reflections.

[libutron]

Renaldus Jewelmark - Anteros renaldus

Anteros renaldus (Riodinidae) is a species of neotropical butterfly distributed from Nicaragua to Brazil and Peru, and characterized by having silvery markings on the underside wings, and very “furry” legs.

Reference: [1]

Photo credit: ©Andrew Neild (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) | Locality: Apuya track, off Tena-Puyo road, Ecuador (2013)

[lavenderinherhair-blog-blog]

White silkworm moths are far too cute to be an insect 

[nirdian]

Nah man, you just gotta learn to see beauty more critters. Insects are awesome (and moths are the best of ‘em).

[native-pollenist]

moths

Public opinion: ewwww!!! ugly dusty bugs!

the moth fandom: CUTIE BABY FLUFFCHILD LOOK AT THOSE LIL ANTENNAE AWWW THEY'RE JUST FLUFFY NIGHT BUTTERFLIES

[dendroica]

bee reddish, f, argentina, side_2014-08-08-07.08.50 ZS PMax by Sam Droege on Flickr.

Parapsaenythia, Red Hairyeye Andrenid, collected in Argentina by Natalia Veiga

Bees rarely have hair coming out from between the facets of their eyes. The Honey Bee is the obvious one, with its long hairs used for navigation. Most members of the common cuckoo bee genus Coelioxys also have hairy eyes, but those hairs are generally short and, nothing is known of their purpose. In the bee family Andrenidae, only Hairyeye Andrenids have hairs coming out of their eyes. These hairy eyes provide a way for taxonomists to separate the group from other genera, but again, we have no idea why this unusual feature is present. This trim little group of 7 South American species is armored with numerous small pit-like craters that cover its surface.

[khrysdiebee]

:o

[sublim-ature]

Pesnica, Slovenia Peter Zajfrid

[rhamphotheca]

Root Systems of Prairie Plants

Prairies are often called “the upside-down forest” since the majority of the biomass (the plant parts) of the system is underground (up to 70%). Compass plant and blazing star, stars of the prairie screen, noted in this line drawing of roots, reach 15 feet deep. The different morphology of the root systems works in harmony, with each plant taking advantage of a soil niche, mingling and “shaking hands” with all of the other plants in the soil, as they do above the soil.

(via: Native Prairies Association of Texas‎)

click image to see larger

[rhamphotheca]

Plants of the World:  What Is Phytogeography?

Here’s a word of the day for you: Phytogeography.

Phytogeography is a branch of biogeography that investigates the geographic distribution of plants and the effect that the earth’s surface has on that distribution.

To go further down the rabbit hole, biogeography studies the distribution of species and organisms now and throughout time. This research reveals important interdependencies between geology, climate, dispersal and evolution.

Alfred Russel Wallace is commonly known as the “Father of Biogeography.” Although not as famously recognized as Charles Darwin, Wallace actually came up with the theory of evolution by means of natural selection independent of and simultaneous to Darwin.

Wallace spent a great part of his career in South America and the Malay Archipelago. During this time, his observations on distribution, breeding, and migration tendencies helped him develop a theory of evolution incorporating the influence of geological barriers on speciation. He also argued that species abundance was directly related to food availability. Today, biogeographers are largely interested in how environmental factors and human activities influence species distribution. Biogeographic change and insight offered by historical data are a long-time passion of Dr. Quentin Groom, research assistant at the Botanic Garden Meise, Belgium. His particular interest is phytogeography, especially as it relates to the interaction between humans and plants…

(read more: Biodiversity Heritage Library)

photographs via Wikimedia Commons

[indefenseofplants]

Tacca are bizarre plants. Their nondescript appearance when not in flower enshrouds the extravagant and, dare I say macabre appearance of their blooms. The inflorescence of this genus is something to marvel at and indeed it has found at least two species of Tacca a spot in the home of many a plant collector. Hailing from southeast Asia, these relatives of the yam must have some unique pollinators. Why else would a plant put so much energy into producing such a reproductive structure? Many hypotheses have been put forth to explain these peculiar flowers. The most common of these is that the flowers are an example of sapromyiophily in which they are meant to mimic a rotting corpse in both smell and appearance in order to attract flies. Few studies have been done to confirm this but those who have looked into this have turned up surprising results. At least for Tacca chantrieri (the most common species horticulturally speaking) there doesn’t seem to be many, if any, true pollinators. A wide reaching study done in South Yunnan province, China found that almost nothing visited the flowers of Tacca chantrieri. Despite the presence of numerous potential pollinators, only a handful of small, stingless bees paid any attention to these quite obvious floral cues. Indeed, genetic analysis of different populations of Tacca chantrieri show that there is very little evidence of genetic transfer between populations, the opposite result of what would be expected from heavily pollinated plants.  The truth of the matter is Tacca chantrieri seems to set seed just fine without any pollination. There are a few hypotheses that attempt to explain why a species would put so much energy into producing these showy blooms that serve no benefit to reproduction. The first would be that the observations were made during times when pollinators were low. Considering the number and variety of pollinators observed at these sites, this seems unlikely. Another could be that the flowers represent a relict condition that serves no purpose today. There could be something to this. Perhaps the genes and thus the structure involved in flowering may be too hard to evolve away from, especially if the condition has only been absent for a short period of time. Also, if the plants are reproducing just fine (especially asexually) then there may not be great reductions in fitness by continuing to produce flowers. Despite this, one would expect at least some reduction in floral production. Cost is still cost.  The point is, we simply do not know at this time. More work will need to be done to investigate these odd flowers. Until then, we can enjoy Tacca for the beautifully strange mystery they offer to us plant folk. Tacca can be maintained quite easily in the home provided they receive ample water, humidity, and good air circulation. They are also shade lovers. Given these conditions, Tacca can add a very strange accent to a dark corner of the house. I personally cannot wait until mine is old enough to flower. 

www.facebook.com/indefenseofplants

Photo Credit: Hazel (http://bit.ly/1swTMn2), MaX Fulcher (http://bit.ly/1swTNY4), and Johannes Lundberg (http://bit.ly/1qB48Bw) 

[collectiveofanimals]

Body size variation in bees by Nico’s wild bees & wasps on Flickr.

[khrysdiebee]

eeeeeeeeeeeee

[serpentitious-deactivated202412]

Vintage Botanical Prints Flowers Part II

[libutron]

Blue Pimpernel - Anagallis arvensis

Anagallis arvensis (Ericales - Primulaceae) is an annual herbaceous plant with reddish-orange or purplish-blue flowers, that is found as native or naturalized in many countries of the  world.

Pimpernel is regarded as an environmental weed in many places. While it is a small and inocuous-looking plant, it can form dense populations in understorey vegetation that exclude native species. It is also poisonous to livestock, domestic animals, and even to humans.

However, not everything is negative with Pimpernel, as it is also used in many places as a medicinal plant against various diseases. In Nepal the squeezed plant is used as soap for washing and bathing.

References: [1] - [2]

Photo credit: ©Emilio I. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) | Locality: Madrid, Spain (2007)

[indefenseofplants]

Photos of this bizarrely beautiful plant have been circulating the internet as of late. I am thrilled to see that so many people are as enamored by the strange blooms of Calceolaria uniflora as I am. What a neat little alpine species. As with any strange plant, once you begin to ponder the significance of the flower morphology, you inevitably come to the same question, what on Earth pollinates it? As a whole the genus Calceolaria is bee pollinated. Relying on what are known as “oil bees,” most of the flowers in this genus produce hairs that secrete oils that the female bees relish. Calceolaria uniflora is rather different from the rest. Instead of producing flowers with a tube or a pouch, this species creates this almost alien looking red and orange flower with a bright white appendage on its lower lip. What is going on there? The answer to this strange riddle has a clue in where this species grows. At high altitudes, oil-collecting bees are rather scarce. It is simply too cold and harsh for many insects to survive in the mountains of Patagonia. Instead, what are present are birds, specifically a species of seedsnipe. These little birds exist on a plant based diet and spend a lot of their time holding territories and grazing on the seeds and fruits of a handful of alpine plants. Researchers noticed that patches of Calceolaria uniflora growing around these birds seemed to have high levels of floral damage, specifically on the lower lip where the white appendage is. In fact, the white appendage was often completely removed. As it turns out, the seedsnipes regularly visit patches of these flowers and proceed to peck off and eat the white appendage. When tested in the lab, researchers found these appendages to be high in sugars. As the birds peck them off, the sexual parts of the flower bash against the birds head. As it does, pollen is dusted onto the bird as well as onto the female parts of the flower. Thus pollination is achieved. When we think of birds as pollinators, we often think of hummingbirds or honeyeaters. The relationship between Calceolaria and the seedsnipe is rather outlandish in comparison but it definitely works for both species. The lack of insect pollinators has driven Calceolaria uniflora towards an alternative pollinator and a unique one at that!

www.facebook.com/indefenseofplants

Photo Credit: Orchi - Wikimedia Commons