The characteristics of a flower often provide clues about its pollinators. Certain flower sizes, shapes, colors, scents and rewards are grouped into "pollination syndromes" associated with specific groups of pollinators. For example, bees often prefer to visit blue and yellow flowers with an open structure that allows easy access to nectar and pollen.
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| A honey bee (Apis mellifera) drinks nectar from an open flower. |
In comparison, red flowers with a long, tubular structure are commonly associated with hummingbird pollination. These flowers have nectar deep inside that hummingbirds can reach with their long bills and tongues. For illustration, I have dissected a trumpet honeysuckle (
Lonicera sempervirens) flower.
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| Some nectar is
visible near the base, at least 3/4 of the way down the tube of the
flower. |
However, bees are not discouraged just because a flower belongs to the "wrong" pollination syndrome. Both honey bees and bumble bees can squeeze their way into trumpet honeysuckle flowers, sometimes disappearing nearly entirely from view in their efforts to reach the nectar.
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| A honey bee (Apis mellifera) attempts to reach the nectar at the base of a trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) flower. |
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| A bumble bee (Bombus sp.) forces its way up the tube of a trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) flower. |
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