A stunning tale of evolution - do not send to Rick Perry

[malaise]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14788701
<snip>

On first seeing the deep red, long-tubular flowers of Babiana ringens in 2003, botanist Spencer Barrett from the University of Toronto, Canada, suspected that he was dealing with a plant that was pollinated exclusively by birds.

But the position of the flowers at the base of the plant perplexed him.

Most birds avoid feeding on or close to the ground to keep clear of ground-dwelling predators; plants reliant on bird-pollination tend to keep their flowers up high.

Dr Barrett and his colleague Bruce Anderson from University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, wondered if the curious perch-like structure had evolved to give pollinating birds a foothold from which to feed.

Crouching among the shrubs of the Cape of South Africa, binoculars in hand, Dr Barrett and his team confirmed that the flowers were exclusively pollinated by sunbirds.

"When we saw a bird visiting we were completely enchanted," said Dr Barrett.


http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/10/aob.mcr172.abstract
The natural history of pollination and mating in bird-pollinated Babiana (Iridaceae)

[TwilightGardener]

1. That is really neat.

[malaise]

6. Yes indeed

:hi:

[ChoppinBroccoli]

2. Well, We Know That This Can't Be True

Because we all know that all that fancy-schmancy Everlooshin stuff don't exist no-how. Clearly, this plant changed because an invisible man in the sky WANTED it to change. And it probably happened over the course of 6 days too.

[malaise]

4. LOL

Hahahahahha :rofl:

[immoderate]

7. I hear stuff like that from "educated people" who have an answer for everything...

And eventually they wind up their arguments by identifying me as the Demon Moloch. Had to look it up.

--imm

[Javaman]

8. sometimes it's like listening to grandpa simpson...

"a fax machine is nothing more than a telephone and a waffle iron".

[ZombieHorde]

3. Why do you hate Adam and Eve? nt

[malaise]

5. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaah hahahahha

Ask Rick the prick :rofl:

[dembotoz]

9. isn't antibiotic resistant bacteria enough proof