Name: The beautiful tricks of flowers
Uploaded: 2011-07-06T00:00:00Z
Duration: 13 min 31 s
Description: In this visually dazzling talk, Jonathan Drori shows the extraordinary ways flowering plants -- over a quarter million species -- have evolved to attract insects to spread their pollen: growing 'landing-strips' to guide the insects in, shining in ultraviolet, building elaborate traps, and even mimicking other insects in heat.

Jonathan Drori: The beautiful tricks of flowers

The beautiful tricks of flowers

In this visually dazzling talk, Jonathan Drori shows the extraordinary ways flowering plants -- over a quarter million species -- have evolved to attract insects to spread their pollen: growing 'landing-strips' to guide the insects in, shining in ultraviolet, building elaborate traps, and even mimicking other insects in heat.

Flowering plants, boasting over a quarter million species, have evolved astonishing ways to attract pollinators for sexual reproduction. Orchids, lilies, and even carrion-mimicking blooms use elaborate strategies, from ultraviolet landing strips to scents that mimic rotting flesh, to lure insects and animals. Some flowers deceive pollinators by promising nectar they do not provide, while others heat up to create the perfect environment for beetles. These ingenious adaptations ensure genetic diversity and survival across ever-changing environments.