Pollinators

Did you know?

A pollinator is any living thing that helps carry pollen from the stamen (male part of the flower) to the pistil (female part). This transfer of pollen must occur for the plant to become fertilized and produce seeds.

The benefits of pollen and nectar-loving insects are that they pick up pollen on their body parts, transfer the pollen from one flower to another, and cause pollination.

Some more familiar pollinators include butterflies, moths, beetles, native bees, bats, and birds. Some pollinators, like bees, collect nectar and pollen during the day, and some, like moths, collect them during the evening.

While the pedals and captivating colors lure in the pollinators, the stamen and pistil fertilize the flower. The stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flowering plant and consists of two parts: The stalk or filament protrudes above the flower, and the anther produces the pollen. The female reproductive cell's pistil comprises the stigma, style, and ovary. When the pollen is transferred to the pistil, fertilization occurs, resulting in the formation of seeds. The photo showcases the Parasol whitetop, a species of Tall flat-topped asters (Doellingeria umbellata)

Parasol whitetop (Doellingeria umbellata)