A plant will do just about anything to get noticed. Especially when the survival of its species is at stake.
Their ‘need to seed’ begins in late Spring and Summer, while seeking the affections of animals and insects for the purpose of procreation. Preferred suitors should be capable of pollinating the flowers and thereby cycling through one of the great mysteries of life.
Attracting the right crowd requires serious effort and cunning on a plants’ part. If you think the rich, vibrant colors of the flowers we buy at the Florist are for our benefit, think again. It’s bugs they want, not us.
Inter-species competition is fierce, especially in luring bees, birds and flies. To gain an advantage, each species can develop flowers in unique shapes, colors and blooming times. Morning Glory flowers open in the morning and close at night, appealing to a very select variety of insects. .
Blossoms of the Night-Blooming Cereus, a member of the Cactus family, open only at night. Avoiding the congestion of daylight flutter, these plants seek a more intimate relationship with bats, moths and other denizens of the dark. Their flowers last only a single night—a reverse-case of playing hard to get?
Perhaps a plant’s most inventive and recognizable tactic is that of smell. Lilac blossoms, the classic perfume of roses, honeysuckle—being in their vicinity can elicit intense feelings of attraction. Enough perhaps for us to jump on the stamens ourselves, and hand deliver the pollen to the pistils.
Other plants have taken to the stinky side of scents—Skunk Cabbage, Lilies, Bradford Pears. Some with the biggest stench are often the most beautiful. .
While boarding a recent international flight for home, the fellow sitting next to me stuffed his shoulder bag in the compartment overhead. There was an acrid smell coming from the bag that made me queasy.
I confronted him on what it could possibly be that was so brutally offensive.
With a quiet smile he confided, that, though he knew of the ban on international transport of living things, he was bringing his girlfriend a special plant from one of the countries he had visited. He knew it smelled bad, but he was in love …
By the time he finished his explanation, other passengers had apparently complained to the flight attendants—who were equally assaulted.
One member of the crew walked up to my seat mate and asked him pointedly, “Excuse me sir, is that your carrion?”
