The flower with a delay

Transcription

An early purple orchid fastens two pollen packets to a visiting insect.

At first, they stand upright, pointing away from where they need to land.

Then the stalks bend forward.

Once bent, the packets can brush against the next flower’s pollen-receiving surface.

The delay helps the insect leave one plant before the pollen is ready.

This nineteenth-century illustration shows both positions.

The flower sends a package that changes position on the journey.