Posted by: Sandy Steinman | September 10, 2011

Plant Provides Its Own Bird Perch

A South African Plant called Rat’s Tail Babiana ringens (Iridaceae) has developed a natural perch to entice birds to pollinate its flowers.  The plant has a vertical branchless stem that provides a perch and grows above the bright red flowers.  Birds hang upside down from the stem to drink the nectar and fertilize the plant.  To learn more and see a photo of pollination in action go to:  BBC News – Plant has evolved a specialist bird perch.  You can also read more in the Annals of Botany 


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