Marsh Grass-of-Parnassus - Bog star

Description:

The 5 white petals of the flower of the Marsh Grass-of-Parnassus are intersected with decorative dark veins. Most striking is the reproductive system of this plant: look at the flower closely and find out more in the notes!

Habitat:

Damp meadow, alt. 1300 m.

Notes:

In Parnassia palustris individual flowers are pollinated with pollen from other plants (cross-fertilization). To help accomplish this, it has decorative yet infertile ciliated "stamens" (staminodes) for attracting pollinators, attached at the base of each petal. First, the five fertile (male) stamens are bent one over the other above the immature (female) stigma. When the flower opens, the pollinators land on the bent stamens in their attempt to reach the nectar located at the base of the staminodes. As the top stamen releases its pollen onto the insect, its anther (the pollen-bearing part of the stamen) bends open and falls off. The stamen next to the ripe one will do then the same, followed by the other three. The insect then deposits pollen on the mature stigma of another, older flower. More information about this plant can be found at: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/148...