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RE: [nafex] Pollen Grains
I made
an interesting observation about this the other day... With my strawberries
coming on, I noticed no bee activity on the flowers and was concerned I
would have a crop this year. As I walked toward my house, I notice a
honeybee taking nectar from a dandelion in my lawn. Flashing an idea, I
carefully picked the dandelion flower and placed it amongst the strawberry
flowers thinking she would find a new source of food and fly back to tell her
other sisters.
The
bee eventually walked off the dandelion, sniffed around the strawberry flower,
then walked back to the dandelion and began to forage. When it was finally
finished, it flew up, circled around and relanded back on the dandelion flower
again. This told me two things: the "flavor" of the dandelion
nectar was more appealing than the strawberry, and two, it was attracted to
the yellow color of the dandelion. This is why researcher, ag agents,
etc.. tell you to keep your orchard floor free of dandelions during bloom
periods. They are more attracted to them then the fruit trees, which
will ultimately effect your fruit set.
Brian
Sheridan, IN
Gianni:
Pollen grains
vary somewhat in size, and, of course, in color, but
in general are
microscopic in size and thus not visible to the naked
eye. When
magnified, many pollen grains look like little spiny sea
urchins, which is
what irritates many people's allergies. When
concentrated together,
as on the pollen baskets of a bee, they are
highly visible and brightly
colored.
No, self-fertile/self-pollinating has nothing
to do with it, and
there are no oils or other invisible substances
involved, insofar as I
know.
Yes, I believe manual
pollination definately helps, especially in
the absence of pollinating
insects.
Bees are attracted by both color and odor,
which is why most flowers
have both.
Rgds, Don Yellman, Great
Falls, VA
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