Many plants flower in our bush at a similar time, so how do plants of an individual species manage to pollinate with minimal pollen wastage.
Buzz pollination is one method used by about 5% of the Western Australian flora.
In brief, plants with flowers that lack nectar rely on specially adapted generalist bees. The bee bends over anthers and briefly vibrates like a tuning fork (sonification) causing pollen to shoot out of terminal pores or slits and lodge in bee abdominal hairs. Pollen already on the bee from other plants shakes loose to pollinate the flower. The Blue banded bee shown here repeatedly bangs its head on the anthers to release the pollen.
This blog gives a great description of the process.
Note. European Honeybees can't do this.
Buzz pollination is one method used by about 5% of the Western Australian flora.
In brief, plants with flowers that lack nectar rely on specially adapted generalist bees. The bee bends over anthers and briefly vibrates like a tuning fork (sonification) causing pollen to shoot out of terminal pores or slits and lodge in bee abdominal hairs. Pollen already on the bee from other plants shakes loose to pollinate the flower. The Blue banded bee shown here repeatedly bangs its head on the anthers to release the pollen.
This blog gives a great description of the process.
Note. European Honeybees can't do this.
 Female Megachile bee about to land |  Blue Banded Bee on a tomato flower. |
Roosting blue banded bees
Buzz pollinated plants generally have these characteristics
- They lack nectar or aroma which attract other insects. I rarely see insects on these flowers because of this, because pollen release occurs in the early morning, and Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata - the main pollinator) is very fast.
- Flowers have bee-attracting colours, such as yellow, blue, and white, often with contrasting patterns. They often have bright yellow anthers and blue or purple petals.
- Flowers are open and symmetrical with the stigma and stamens sticking out together.
Tomatoes (Solanum family) have the classical flower shape of anthers clumped in a cone around the style on short filaments and held above radial petals.
A local species is Solanum symonii, a fire ephemeral, which is uncommonly seen on red clay soils after fire. A similar flower form is seen in Halgania anagalloides (Boraginaceae family), Thomasia, Guichenotia, Lasiopetalum (Malvaceae family), and Cyanostegia lanceolata (Lamiaceae family)
A local species is Solanum symonii, a fire ephemeral, which is uncommonly seen on red clay soils after fire. A similar flower form is seen in Halgania anagalloides (Boraginaceae family), Thomasia, Guichenotia, Lasiopetalum (Malvaceae family), and Cyanostegia lanceolata (Lamiaceae family)
 Lasiopetalum microcardium Harrismith |  Halgania anagalloides |  Solanum symonii a Kangaroo Apple |
 Thomasia foliosa |  Guichenotia macrantha |  Cyanostegia lanceolata |
Tetratheca flowers also have the typical anthers although it isn't obvious because these stunningly beautiful flowers droop.
 Teratheca virgata Foxes Lair |  Teratheca confertifolia Foxes Lair |  Tetratheca retrorsa Tutanning |
All Hibbertia species lack nectar and are buzz pollinated, but stamens and pistil stick straight out at visiting bees. Despite being amost blindingly bright yellow to humans, insects don't see differences in colour intensity , and I rarely see any insects on them.
The uncommon Labichea lanceolata the only local buzz pollinated Fabaciae flower has clear nectar guide patterns, which I suspect are deceptive.
The uncommon Labichea lanceolata the only local buzz pollinated Fabaciae flower has clear nectar guide patterns, which I suspect are deceptive.
 Hibbertia commutata |  Upright Hibbertia anthers |  Labichea lanceolata Tutanning |
| There are many lily species in our bush, which are monocotyledons in the Asparagaceae, Liliaceae and Hemerocallidaceae families. Superficially quite similar they are pollinated by bees, but some just offer pollen with and without buzz pollination, and others supply nectar. It must be a bit confusing for the bees. Stypandra, Dianella and Dichopogon have typical buzz pollinated flowers - blue flowers with large yellowish elongated anthers with terminal pores. |  Sowerbaea laxiflora Purple Tassels |
 Stypandra glauca Lamb Poison |  Dianella revoluta Blueberry Lily |
 Thysanotus thyrsoideus Common Fringed Lily |  Dichopogon calipes |
 Agrosotocrinum scabrum Blue grass lily |  Calactesia sp Tinsel Lily |
Chamaescilla (Blue Squill, Curly Squill), and Tricoryne species have nectar to attract bees and coat them with pollen the 'normal' way from side opening anthers. However they have no aroma to distinguish them from buzz pollinated neighbours.
 Tricoryne humilis |  Chamaescilla corymbosa Blue Squill |
Patersonia and Orthrosanthus lilies lack nectar, and aroma but are not buzz pollinated - their anthers open inwards through slits and flowers only stay open for about half a day. I don't understand why this has evolved as it doesn't appear to be a successful strategy: Perhaps hoverflies visit to eat their pollen As it turns out Orthrosanthus laxus is self pollinated!
 Patersonia occidentalis Purple Flag |  Patersonia juncea Rush Leaved Patersonia |  Orthrosanthus laxus Morning Iris |
I can't understand the reason for these functional variations in similar looking flowers. Why would a bee visit a specific species? I wonder if they all rely on buzz pollinating generalist bees that take both nectar and pollen, and whether the different techniques deposit pollen on different parts of the same bee?
any ideas?
any ideas?