Very nice study. Do you think the green lines are now "pollen guides"? They converge on the active stamen. Very cool. Also, have you ever looked at the flowers under UV? Nectar guides often look different under UV.
Actually, I neglected to point out that we suspect there is indeed nectar at the base of the staminodes; I do see insects poking around down there. Also of note, but not in the essay, is that there are actually only five staminodes on each flower (equal to the number of petals and stamens), but each staminode is like a little trident with three glassy orbs. You can actually see that in some of the images. Thanks, Walter!
Aug 22, 2023·edited Aug 22, 2023Liked by Bryan Pfeiffer
What a wonderful journey! As an artist who is enamored with orchids and all their alluring visual intricacies, I am thrilled to be taken into the complex cycles of these beautiful, indeed elegant, flowers.
I am totally astonished, actually---staring closely, marveling and exclaiming out loud. I mean, such complexities! These beauties are so magical, I truly understand your fascination with, and attraction to them.
Thanks for the close-ups, the science details and origins---I loved your story-telling way of introducing me to these sensuous, art-inspiring jewels & their bee.
Wonderful Brian, the study of nature is infinitely rewarding because the mysteries are so intricate, and also seemingly infinite! You've provided me with some inspiration for my morning, thanks! This is a very basic question, but if the bee feeds its young with pollen, but the flower is tricking the bee into sipping nectar from the staminodes and depositing the pollen on the bee's abdomen, how does the bee then provide the pollen to it's young. Does it suddenly discover that it mysteriously accumulated pollen on its belly? Did it consciously accumulate pollen on its belly? Or did it purposefully collect pollen from the anther, store it in its pollen pockets, then move on to the staminodes?
Great questions, Steve. I'm no expert on Andrena bees -- and I might enhance this reply tomorrow. But, basically, the females gather pollen and store it on specialized hairs on their hind legs. They then formed it into a "loaf" or pellet on which she lays an egg and leaves it in a chamber of her burrow. The eggs hatches and feeds and grows (not in the presence of the female). Males don't gather pollen like that. (I've got photos of females loaded with pollen -- the example in my post didn't really show it.) Also, it appears that there is nectar at the base of the staminodes (although I'm not entirely certain about that). So, basically, females actively gather pollen for their larvae to grown upon, but in the process they also get dusted with pollen on the underside of their abdomen or thorax, which they carry to stigmas of other flowers. Hope that helps!
Thanks for that Brian! I guess the question of pollen gathering sparked my interest in this particular bee-flower relationship as there is only one anther presented at a time, which is deceptively (from the perspective of the bee) positioned to strike its abdomen as it goes to the staminodes. I suspected that the trap set by these particular flowers was too perfect to allow the bee to collect pollen for itself. But, perhaps the bee collects its pollen from the single anther first, then moves on to the staminode, and there is still enough pollen left on the anther to then be incidentally collected beneath the abdomen, and from there pollinate another flower! I guess that's why flowers produce an absolute overkill of pollen grains? As it only takes one pollen grain to fertilise an ova? Thanks again.
Mother Nature has a worthy ally in you, Bryan. I'm honored to be included. I pass by swaths of it on our "back road" every morning as I drive to work through August and early September, and it is a sentinel of beauty. Thanks for unraveling the mysteries. Glad to know more about it and have a friend in that affinity.
Bravo Bryan pour ces observations méticuleuses faites avec compétence et rigueur puis racontées avec un réel talent pour la vulgarisation et l'écriture ! Je vais partager tout ça avec un groupe de discussion basé en France qui se passionne pour de telles choses. / Michel Bertrand, Sainte-Julie, Qc
Well, I only wish my French included more than words like rendez-vous, avant-garde, cliché and dossier! 😀 Gotta be some similar nature terms, right? (And I'm WAY behind on reading, Sabrina, including Seven Senses. Looking forward to catching up this weekend!)
What I was trying to say, Bryan, is that you are a fine nature observer and an excellent writer. Take those good words, they come from a naturalist and a professionnal writer, now 80 years old.
Google translated your French well for me, Michel. I'm humbled. And now in English you are so kind as well. Coming from you, those words mean a lot to me. Thanks so much!
True, Sabrina. Thanks. This love story, actually with another plant, is an essay I'm afraid to write. But I'll get there. (And I'm WAY behind on reading, including Seven Senses. Looking forward to catching up this weekend!)
Yeah, my own Guinness consumption plummeted years ago once craft beers rose to prominence here in Vermont (and in so many other places). Brown and red ales are my faves even though IPAs (goat piss to me) rule here in VT.
Wow! I love your writing which articulates your love for nature so well. That it is informative and often brings to light the less known, even obscure, members of nature makes it even better. Thank you!
Thanks so much! You know, no regrets or anything, but if I had it all to do over again, I just might have become a botanist. Now I'm merely a happy wannabe botanist.
Very nice study. Do you think the green lines are now "pollen guides"? They converge on the active stamen. Very cool. Also, have you ever looked at the flowers under UV? Nectar guides often look different under UV.
Actually, I neglected to point out that we suspect there is indeed nectar at the base of the staminodes; I do see insects poking around down there. Also of note, but not in the essay, is that there are actually only five staminodes on each flower (equal to the number of petals and stamens), but each staminode is like a little trident with three glassy orbs. You can actually see that in some of the images. Thanks, Walter!
"A single flower is at the same time an investigation and a mantra during a meditation in nature."
And you are a scientist, a monk, a poet, and an artist in making this work for us. Thank you, Bryan!
Aw, shucks -- so very kind of you, Ann. Thanks!
What a wonderful journey! As an artist who is enamored with orchids and all their alluring visual intricacies, I am thrilled to be taken into the complex cycles of these beautiful, indeed elegant, flowers.
I am totally astonished, actually---staring closely, marveling and exclaiming out loud. I mean, such complexities! These beauties are so magical, I truly understand your fascination with, and attraction to them.
Thanks for the close-ups, the science details and origins---I loved your story-telling way of introducing me to these sensuous, art-inspiring jewels & their bee.
You've made my day. Thanks, Toni.
Fascinating. Thanks.
You're welcome, Betty. Thanks for reading.
Excellent and interesting description of the process. One of my favorite plants also.
They're so compelling. Thanks, Steve!
Wonderful Brian, the study of nature is infinitely rewarding because the mysteries are so intricate, and also seemingly infinite! You've provided me with some inspiration for my morning, thanks! This is a very basic question, but if the bee feeds its young with pollen, but the flower is tricking the bee into sipping nectar from the staminodes and depositing the pollen on the bee's abdomen, how does the bee then provide the pollen to it's young. Does it suddenly discover that it mysteriously accumulated pollen on its belly? Did it consciously accumulate pollen on its belly? Or did it purposefully collect pollen from the anther, store it in its pollen pockets, then move on to the staminodes?
Great questions, Steve. I'm no expert on Andrena bees -- and I might enhance this reply tomorrow. But, basically, the females gather pollen and store it on specialized hairs on their hind legs. They then formed it into a "loaf" or pellet on which she lays an egg and leaves it in a chamber of her burrow. The eggs hatches and feeds and grows (not in the presence of the female). Males don't gather pollen like that. (I've got photos of females loaded with pollen -- the example in my post didn't really show it.) Also, it appears that there is nectar at the base of the staminodes (although I'm not entirely certain about that). So, basically, females actively gather pollen for their larvae to grown upon, but in the process they also get dusted with pollen on the underside of their abdomen or thorax, which they carry to stigmas of other flowers. Hope that helps!
Thanks for that Brian! I guess the question of pollen gathering sparked my interest in this particular bee-flower relationship as there is only one anther presented at a time, which is deceptively (from the perspective of the bee) positioned to strike its abdomen as it goes to the staminodes. I suspected that the trap set by these particular flowers was too perfect to allow the bee to collect pollen for itself. But, perhaps the bee collects its pollen from the single anther first, then moves on to the staminode, and there is still enough pollen left on the anther to then be incidentally collected beneath the abdomen, and from there pollinate another flower! I guess that's why flowers produce an absolute overkill of pollen grains? As it only takes one pollen grain to fertilise an ova? Thanks again.
Plus, I suspect those Andrea also get pollen from other flowers, perhaps Solidago species.
Again, thank you. Your writing always makes my day. You make the truth of quiet questions and intimate observations rewarding.
This is so very kind of you. Sue. Thanks!
Mother Nature has a worthy ally in you, Bryan. I'm honored to be included. I pass by swaths of it on our "back road" every morning as I drive to work through August and early September, and it is a sentinel of beauty. Thanks for unraveling the mysteries. Glad to know more about it and have a friend in that affinity.
Butterflies and flowers -- what could be better for sharing! Yeah, seems to be peaking in Danville now, but still plenty in bud on Sunday.
Wow! Fascinating read! Thanks Bryan.
We could spend a lifetime with those flowers and perhaps still not learn their secrets. Thanks, Lizzie!
Thanks for another wonderful essay! What a interesting flower. Found some in Bennington while butterflying. Will keep looking for the bee.
Yay! Your sharp eye — sharp as ever!
Bravo Bryan pour ces observations méticuleuses faites avec compétence et rigueur puis racontées avec un réel talent pour la vulgarisation et l'écriture ! Je vais partager tout ça avec un groupe de discussion basé en France qui se passionne pour de telles choses. / Michel Bertrand, Sainte-Julie, Qc
Ça fair plaisir de voir d’autres Français lisent le travail de Bryan! 🫶
Vermont et Québec, nous sommes voisins. Il est normal de vouloir partager ce qui nous intéresse. Merci pour votre réponse !
Well, I only wish my French included more than words like rendez-vous, avant-garde, cliché and dossier! 😀 Gotta be some similar nature terms, right? (And I'm WAY behind on reading, Sabrina, including Seven Senses. Looking forward to catching up this weekend!)
What I was trying to say, Bryan, is that you are a fine nature observer and an excellent writer. Take those good words, they come from a naturalist and a professionnal writer, now 80 years old.
Google translated your French well for me, Michel. I'm humbled. And now in English you are so kind as well. Coming from you, those words mean a lot to me. Thanks so much!
I can senses a genuine love story between you & Fen Grass-of-Parnassus 🤍
True, Sabrina. Thanks. This love story, actually with another plant, is an essay I'm afraid to write. But I'll get there. (And I'm WAY behind on reading, including Seven Senses. Looking forward to catching up this weekend!)
Ooo can’t wait to hear whom your true love plant is! 🌱 💚
Nature is magical. Thanks for sharing another interesting and educational essay!
You are most welcome, Lisa. (That a Guinness?)
Civil Life Brown Ale. Now if I were in Dublin it would most definitely be a Guinness! I love to support our local craft beer makers :)
Yeah, my own Guinness consumption plummeted years ago once craft beers rose to prominence here in Vermont (and in so many other places). Brown and red ales are my faves even though IPAs (goat piss to me) rule here in VT.
Lol Bryan, "Goat piss"! Couldn't have said it better. Cheers ;)
How I appreciate your love affair with nature and your exquisite gift of sharing and educating. Thank you again and again Bryan!
This is so kind of you, Leigh. Thanks. I know that passion and love affair with nature in YOU as well. I've seen it out there in the wilds!
Wow! I love your writing which articulates your love for nature so well. That it is informative and often brings to light the less known, even obscure, members of nature makes it even better. Thank you!
Thanks so much! You know, no regrets or anything, but if I had it all to do over again, I just might have become a botanist. Now I'm merely a happy wannabe botanist.