Marcgravia
Its distinctive inflorescence has small nectar pitchers that attract a wide variety of pollinators.
Marcgravia is an epiphytepifyte
Marcgravia plant is a climbing epiphyte, meaning it grows on other plants without drawing nutrients from them, unlike parasites. Instead, it absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air and rainfall. It uses other plants—especially trees—as support for climbing. This behavior reflects Marcgravia’s remarkable adaptation to the rainforest, where competition for sunlight is intense.
The inflorescence
The marcgravia plant has its flowers arranged in a very special way. The flowers point downwards and form a ring around a central cluster of small, nectar-producing pitchers.
The petals of the individual flowers are fused into a small-cap that falls off when the flower opens. In this way, the stamens are exposed and can release their pollen.
The pollination
The nectar in the pitchers attracts visiting hummingbirds. One theory says that as the hummingbirds drink the nectar in the small pitchers, they are powdered with pollen on their necks, which they then bring on to new flowers.
Another theory claims that the nectar in the pitcher is primarily intended to attract small insects. The birds then will come to eat the insects and thereby become powdered with pollen, which again is transported to other flowers.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: Tropical house
- Danish name: Marcgravia
- Latin name: Marcgravia umbellata
- Family: Marcgravia family / Marcgraviaceae
- Natural habitat: South America