Plant Pollination and Reproduction

Bumblebee [Bombus] on Water Avens [Geum rivale].New York. 6-13-25. Notice the pollen on its legs

Bumble Bee [Bombus] pollinating Mountain Laurel [Kalmia latifolia]. Dauphin County Pa. 6-10-25. Notice the tiny grains of pollen on its back, as the stamens spring out as the bee enters the flower and in the process dusting its back with tiny grains of pollen.

Bumble Bee [Bombus] pollinating Beardtongue [Penstemon digitalis]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-10-25

Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolius]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-10-25. Showing stamens with grains of pollen.

Sweat Bee [Lasioglossum Dialistus] pollinating Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-17-25

Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Most flowers of this species are unisex, meaning they are male or female. This flower is a female, showing the five pointed star of the female structure open and waiting to receive pollen. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-17-25 [above&below]

Bee Fly [Bombus major] searching for nectar and pollinating Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-17-25

Bee Fly [Bombylius major] searching for nectar and inadvertently pollinating Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-17-25

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-13-25. Showing what is known as a maiden flower, having no male parts [stamens], only having female parts [stigma]. Another flower with stamens could still pollinate this flower and it would produce seeds.

Bee Fly [Bombylius major] in the act of pollinating Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-13-25

Carpenter Bee dusted with pollen [the pollen packets can be seen above the bee] on Spotted Bee Balm [Monarda punctata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-3-24. One of my favorite pictures from the past year.

Common Milkweed [Asclepias syriaca] seed. Dauphin county, Pa. 11-1-24

Common Milkweed [Asclepias syriaca] in seed. Dauphin county, Pa. 11-1-24

All that is left after the flower has fallen off from this American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides] is called the receptacle, now containing seeds for the next generation as it is an annual. Seeds can now be found the pouch at the end of the dried tubular receptacle. Looking closely you can see tiny droplets that are the oil glands full of aromatic chemicals, that give this plant its wonderful fragrance. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-28-24

Dogane [Apocynum cannabinum] seed. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-18-24

Witch Hazel fruit and its beautiful ebony colored seeds [Hamamelis virginiana].

This fruit of Witch Hazel [Hamamelis virginiana] shown with flowers, the fruit have opened and expelled their seeds. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-10-24

This fruit of Witch Hazel [Hamamelis virginiana] has opened and the one of its two seeds has been ejected, the other is a undeveloped seed. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-10-24

Dogbane seed [Apocynum cannabinum] just waiting for the right gust of wind . Dauphin County, Pa. 10-18-24

Witch Hazel [Hamamelis virginiana] fruit with seeds that haven't been ejected. Dauphin county, Pa. 10-15-12

Fruit from Witch Hazel [Hamamelis virginiana]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-4-24. One day soon, when the temperature is just right, these nut like structures will open and as if shot by springs the seeds of the Witch Hazel will shoot up to 30 feet away for its parent tree. A fascinating way for this wonderful plant to disperse its ebony colored seeds, just one more reason to love and appreciate this native plant.

Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata]. This plant was flowering on August 5 and after 52 days on September 22 has friut and seeds, and some plants still have flowers hanging on. Dauphin County, Pa.

On August 12 this American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides] was in full bloom and 40 days later on September 22 is now in fruit [seed]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-22-24

Carpenter Bee on Goldenrod [Solidago]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-4-24. With the pollen on its leg.

Honey Bee [Apis] on Goldenrod [Solidago]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-4-24. With the pollen on its leg.

Carpenter Bee on Goldenrod [Solidago]. Dauphin County, Pa. 9-4-24. With the pollen on its leg.

I have often wondered what pollinates Indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans], and after following many of these Tiny Hover or Syrphid Flies [Syrphipae] on the flowers of this grass, and reading that they are prolific pollinators, I guess I can wonder no more. In fact you can see tiny grains of pollen on its legs. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-20-24

Thick Headed fly [Stylogaster] on Butterfly Weed [Asclepias tuberosa]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-5-24

Thick Headed fly [Stylogaster] on Slender Mountain Mint [Pycanthemum tenuifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-5-24

This picture shows all that is left of the once magnificent flower of the Large Whorled Pogonia [Iostria verticillata] [left], right shows the same flower just two weeks before. It was not successfully pollinated, as there is no seed pod on this flower this year. It is truly a marvel after all the challeges plants go through in a year just to produce a single flower for just two weeks and hopefully reproduce. From gowing all summer, and in the case of this orchid the leaves, after flowering, will double in size to store enough energy to produce a flower next year and hopefully be successfully pollinated. In the mean time it will need sufficient moisture, sunlight. and avoiding being eaten by a bear, or deer, or perhaps a rabbit, and avoid all the ravages of insects. For all their beauty plants such as this one orchid have a single purpose, to reproduce and continue its species.

Bee Fly [Bombylius major], drinking nectar and in the act pollinating Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-14-24

Spotted Nomad Bee [Nomada maculata] pollinating Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolius]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-24.

Spotted Nomad Bee [Nomada maculata] pollinating Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolius]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-24. Notice the tiny grains of pollen on the bee.

Fly [Siphona] visiting Dwarf Ginseng [Panax]. Possible pollinator for this plant, notice the tiny grains of pollen of the fly. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-24

Bee Fly [Bombylius major], drinking nectar and in the act pollinating Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-14-24

Although it is possible for the flowers of Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens] to be a perfect flower [having both male and female parts] most are unisex, having either male of female parts. In fact most groups of plants and their flowers are one sex or another. Pictured below is the female with its star shaped apparatus that is open and ready to receive pollen, pictured above is the male with its pollen producing structures. The amazing world of just one tiny spring flower and its fascinating strategy for reproducing.

Miner Bee [Anthophora abrupta] pollinating Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-9-24.

Miner Bee [Anthophora abrupta] pollinating Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-9-24. Notice the grains of pollen on its leg as it has come in contact with a stamen.

Miner Bee [Anthophora abrupta] pollinating Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-9-24. Notice the grains of pollen on its legs and face and antenna.

Orange Belted\ Tri colored Bumblebee [Bombus ternarius] pollinating an aster. Coos County, N.H.

The achenes or fruit contain a single seed, in this case the seed of Blue Stemmed Goldenrod [Solidago caesia]. At the achenes apex is the pappus which is made up of tiny hairs, which in turn help to distribute and disperse the achenes, and thus the seed, far and wide on the wind. Aren't plants just amazing! Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-23

Bumblebee [Bombus, a known pollinator of this plant] and Sweat Bee [Augochlorella aurata]. Searching fo nectar on the last remaining flowers of Nodding Ladies Tresses [Spiranthes cernua]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-3-23

Bumble Bee [Bombus] on Blue Wood Aster [Symphyotrichu cordifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-11-23

Indian Grass [Sorghastrum nutas] in flower. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-22-23. The white feathery parts are the stigmas

Three Lined Moth [Schinia trifascia]. on Blue Mist flower [conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-29-23. A possible pollinator for this plant.

Sweat Bee [Augochlorella aurata] on Blue Mist Flower [Conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-29-23. You can see the tiny grains of pollen trapped in the tiny hairs on its legs

Sweat Bee [Augochlorella aurata] on Blue Mist Flower [Conoclinium coelestinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-29-23

Spotted Nomad Bee [Nomanda maculata] pollinating Wild sasaparilla [Aralia nudicaulis]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-9-23

Spotted Nomad Bee [Nomada maculata] pollinating Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolius]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-23

Bumble Bee [Bombus impatiens] pollinating Narrow Leaved Mountain Mint [Pycnanthemum tenuifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-3-23

One of my favorite flowers is the tiny Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata], a cousin to the beautiful Cardinal Flower [Lobelia cardinalis] . I often wondered what could be pollinating this small beauty. While photographing this wildflower recently a tiny unfamiliar insect appeared going from flower to flower placing its proboscis deep into each flower. Looking like a tiny dragonfly this tiny insect , called a Thick Headed Fly [Stylogaster neglecta], a real beauty of the insect world. Is it a pollinator of lobelia inflata, I do not know but I would say there is definitely a high probability. Schuylkill County, Pa. 8-3-23