Frisky flower uses bellows to blast pollen at hungry birds

摘要

For one group of plants, having brightly coloured flowers isn't enough to guarantee pollination. They have evolved bellow-like organs to blast visiting birds with pollen. The male parts of flowers, or stamens, make pollen. Animals normally pick this up when foraging for nectar or other food, before carrying it to the female parts. Axinaea plants have a more active tactic, perhaps because birds eat their stamens whole.