Digital Flowers

Iridaceae

11-Iris pollinator

[FMP-field: image]

Iris are often pollinated by bees. In this example, you can see the three stages that occurs in pollination.

1. A bee lands on the sepal and starts to crawl in between the sepal and petaloid style branch.
2. As the bee enters the constricted area, the stigmatic flap on the style branch scraps off any pollen that may be on the insect's back.
3. As the bee fully enters the flower in search of nectar, the anther deposits fresh pollen on the insect's back.

Photo taken by K. R. Robertson at the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.