|
Pollinators of plants can often be predicted, based on flower
characteristics of colour, fragrance and shape. For example, white,
fragrant flowers with a long corolla tube are usually pollinated by
Hawk moths, which are nocturnal and have a long tongue to reach the
nectar. Fig trees are unique in that the flowers are completely
concealed within the fig, an enclosed inflorescence, with the
hundreds of tiny florets lining the inside of a central cavity,
requiring a specialist pollinator. Tiny fig wasps, only a couple of
millimeters long perform this function in return for a place to
breed.
Photographs © Simon van
Noort |
