Utricularia menziesii
Home » Floral micromorphology of bird-pollinated carnivorous Utricularia

Floral micromorphology of bird-pollinated carnivorous Utricularia

Most bladderworts (genera Pinguicula, Genlisea, Utricularia, Lentibulariaceae) are pollinated by insects. Bird pollination is rare and has probably evolved independently three times in this family.

Utricularia menziesii

In Western Australia, the Western spinebill, Acanthorhynchus superciliosus, visits flowers of Utricularia menziesii. Płachno et al. study the micromorphology of U. menziesii flowers to assess traits that are likely linked to its pollination strategy. The flowers fulfil many criteria that characterise bird-pollination: red colour, a large, tough nectary spur that can withstand contact with a hard beak, lack of visual nectar guides and fragrance. The hexose-dominant nectar that was detected in flowers of U. menziesii is common in plants pollinated by passerine perching birds.

Alex Assiry

Alex Assiry is an editorial assistant in the Annals of Botany Office. When not working, Alex listens for the opportunity to help.

Read this in your language

The Week in Botany

On Monday mornings we send out a newsletter of the links that have been catching the attention of our readers on Twitter and beyond. You can sign up to receive it below.

@BotanyOne on Mastodon

Loading Mastodon feed...

Audio


Archive