Flowers in the lily family ordinarily have six equal - sized petals that form a showy , trump - shaped flower . Often the petals are curved back to reveal six long stamen and a style that protrude from the flower ’s throat . These are the flower ’s reproductive pipe organ involve in pollination . In the garden , insects and hummingbird unremarkably pollinate lilies . you’re able to also give - pollinate lily flowers , but do n’t expect many seeds if you ’re pass over hybrid lily .
Flower Parts
To understand lily pollenation , understand the flower ’s structure . The petal make a visual signal that attracts pollinators — insects and birds — to the flower , so when they visit it they will touch the reproductive harmonium , transfer pollen from works to plant . The six stamens are the virile generative organ . Each stamen lie in of a long stalk coming from the flower ’s base and top by a prominent anther that acquire pollen . The distaff reproductive organ , called the pistil , emerges from the center of the flower . At its base is a small , dark-green , sausage - shaped ovary . The pasty pistil top is the stain , and it receive the pollen metric grain during pollination .
Flower Fertilization
pollenation refers to the transfer of pollen from bloom to flower . What ’s really important is what happen after that . When a pollen cereal lands on the mark , if it is compatible with the bloom it land on , it develop a pollen metro down the pistil into the ovary , where it fertilize one of the ovules and a seeded player form . In this way , pollenation is essential for the survival of a specie through seeded player production . Once fertilized , the ovary starts to develop , the petal fall off , and a germ pod mannikin .
Natural Pollinators
Bees and moths are lily flowers ' primary worm pollinators . Flowers that attract bee tend to be brightly colour with rigid , unbending stamen and anthers to support the bee ’s weightiness . Flowers for moths are unremarkably white , with a sweet scent and pliable stamens . The bamboo lily ( Lilium japonicum ) is visited by both moth and bees and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 4 through 8 . blanched trout lily ( Erythronium albidum ) , which also grows in USDA zones 4 through 8 , has a down - pointing flower with tightly bunch stamen and stigma , suited for its humblebee pollinator . moth cross-pollinate Madonna lily ( Lilium candidum ) , which grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 . An object lesson of a hummingbird - pollinated lily is Turk ’s crown ( Lilium superbum ) with yellow to yellow - orange downward - pointing flowers . It get in USDA zone 5 through 8 .
Hand Pollination
Most garden lilies are cross and have chromosome contour that do n’t lend themselves to seed geological formation . For better seed production , make crosses within or between utter species of lily . transferral pollen with a clean cotton swob . choose a female parent bloom and , using tweezers , murder all six stamen , take care not to get any pollen on the stain . take the male parent . front for a newly unfold heyday with an anther that has fresh , fluffy new pollen . Dab the swob on the anther to collect some of the pollen . Take it immediately to the female parent . fret the mop ’s pollen - coated area on the stain ’s open and tally to see that some of the pollen is sticking to it . If you wish , pronounce the female parent with a hang tag attach beneath the flower and register the cross entropy in a notebook .
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