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Index of Subjects --089e014944a48ddbc20502180fc9 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Here is a quote <http://huttonstreet.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/turtlehead-chelone-glabra/> from the web mentioning that the Turtlehead flower does deposit its pollen on the *back* of a bee. "Bumblebees collect both nectar and pollen, but there would be little advantage to the plants to have pollen collected and fed to the bee=E2=80= =99s larvae, so the turtlehead has found a way to protect its pollen. The anthers, which hold the pollen, and the stigma, which receives it, are hidden under the upper lip of the flower. The bee can only enter the flower by forcing its head and body into the mouth of the flower while holding on to the flowers=E2=80=99 lower lip. It cannot reach the anthers with its fro= nt legs in that position, they are behind it, so the bee cannot collect the pollen. The bee can drink the nectar from the base of the flower, though. As it forces its way down into the flower, the anthers rub against its velvety back and the pollen grains are caught. If the flower has already shed its pollen, the anthers pull back and the stigma becomes receptive. If the next foraging bee has some pollen on its back, the pollen sticks onto the stigma and begins to germinate." On Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 1:37 PM, Rick Ballard <ideaphore@gmail.com> wrote: > > On Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 12:21 PM, Ian McKay <ian@amimckay.com> wrote: > >> We keep a few hives here in Scots Bay. Over the past week or so the bees >> have been returning with a very WHITE POLLEN. They are covered in it wit= h a >> pronounced streak down their backs. This leads me to think that they are >> crawling into a tubular blossom of some sort. I haven=E2=80=99t been abl= e to track >> it down in my wanderings and it may be a woodland flower as some are >> heading back into the woods. Any ideas as to what it could be, blooming >> Late August/Early Sept? > > > =E2=80=8BTurtleheads ! Certainly in bloom now. > > " This unique flower shape has evolved to suit the plant's pollinators, > primarily large bees. The lower "lip" of the flower acts as a landing pad > for the bees, while the upper hood of the flower not only guards the nect= ar > from unsuitable pollinators, but also helps deliver pollen to the bees' > fuzzy bodies as they push apart the petals in search of nectar. =E2=80=8B= " > > > > -- > Rick Ballard > Dartmouth,Nova Scotia, Canada > --=20 Rick Ballard Dartmouth,Nova Scotia, Canada --089e014944a48ddbc20502180fc9 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:georgia,= serif">Here is a <a href=3D"http://huttonstreet.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/tu= rtlehead-chelone-glabra/">quote</a> from the web mentioning that the Turtle= head flower does deposit its pollen on the <i>back</i> of a bee.<br> <br>"Bumblebees collect both nectar and pollen, but there would be lit= tle=20 advantage to the plants to have pollen collected and fed to the bee=E2=80= =99s=20 larvae, so the turtlehead has found a way to protect its pollen. The=20 anthers, which hold the pollen, and the stigma, which receives it, are=20 hidden under the upper lip of the flower. The bee can only enter the=20 flower by forcing its head and body into the mouth of the flower while=20 holding on to the flowers=E2=80=99 lower lip. It cannot reach the anthers w= ith=20 its front legs in that position, they are behind it, so the bee cannot=20 collect the pollen. The bee can drink the nectar from the base of the=20 flower, though. As it forces its way down into the flower, the anthers=20 rub against its velvety back and the pollen grains are caught. If the=20 flower has already shed its pollen, the anthers pull back and the stigma becomes receptive. If the next foraging bee has some pollen on its=20 back, the pollen sticks onto the stigma and begins to germinate."</div= ></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue= , Sep 2, 2014 at 1:37 PM, Rick Ballard <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mai= lto:ideaphore@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">ideaphore@gmail.com</a>></spa= n> wrote:<br> <blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p= x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_extra">= <div class=3D""><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 12:21= PM, Ian McKay <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:ian@amimckay.com" ta= rget=3D"_blank">ian@amimckay.com</a>></span> wrote:<br> <blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-= left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">We keep a few hives here = in Scots Bay. Over the past week or so the bees=20 have been returning with a very WHITE POLLEN. They are covered in it with a= =20 pronounced streak down their backs. This leads me to think that they are=20 crawling into a tubular blossom of some sort. I haven=E2=80=99t been able t= o track it=20 down in my wanderings and it may be a woodland flower as some are heading b= ack=20 into the woods. Any ideas as to what it could be, blooming Late August/Earl= y=20 Sept?</blockquote></div><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"fon= t-family:georgia,serif">=E2=80=8BTurtleheads ! Certainly in bloom now.<br><= br>" This unique flower shape has evolved to suit the plant's poll= inators,=20 primarily large bees. The lower "lip" of the flower acts as a lan= ding=20 pad for the bees, while the upper hood of the flower not only guards the nectar from unsuitable pollinators, but also helps deliver pollen to=20 the bees' fuzzy bodies as they push apart the petals in search of=20 nectar. =E2=80=8B"</div><span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"= ><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><span style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif"= >Rick Ballard </span><br style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif"><span style=3D= "font-family:georgia,serif">Dartmouth,Nova Scotia, Canada </span><br style= =3D"font-family:georgia,serif"> <span style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif"></span> </font></span></div></div> </blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><span style=3D"font-fam= ily:georgia,serif">Rick Ballard </span><br style=3D"font-family:georgia,ser= if"><span style=3D"font-family:georgia,seri