Calochortus tolmei

diana chapman rarebulbs@earthlink.net
Mon, 17 Mar 2003 17:04:42 PST
Hi Jennifer:

All Calochortus have hairy petals, although most have their hairs at the
base of the petal around the nectary, and some species have few visible
hairs.  Looking at Calochortus in bloom, one can see pollen caught on the
hairs around the nectary gland.  Where I used to live in the foothills of
the Sierra, the main pollinators seemed to be small grey beetles, although
many other insects did visit the flowers. The beetles would become dusted
with pollen as they crawled around inside the flower seeking nectar.

Diana   


> [Original Message]
> From: <jennifer.hildebrand@att.net>
> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
 > Date: 3/17/2003 12:21:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [pbs] Calochortus tolmei
>
> Thanks, Mark, for sharing this gorgeous photo. 
> 
> I've wondered for a while now - why do these Calochortus developed the
"fur" on 
> the petals?  Does it somehow promote pollination?  Is it a defense
against a 
> predator?
> 
> Jennifer
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--- diana chapman
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