Flowers can hear buzzing bees—and it makes their nectar sweeter
CommentWe found this article to be fascinating!
EVEN ON THE quietest days, the world is full of sounds: birds chirping, wind rustling through trees, and insects humming about their business. The ears of both predator and prey are attuned to one another’s presence.
Sound is so elemental to life and survival that it prompted Tel Aviv University researcher Lilach Hadany to ask: What if it wasn’t just animals that could sense sound—what if plants could, too? The first experiments to test this hypothesis, published recently on the pre-print server bioRxiv, suggest that in at least one case, plants can hear, and it confers a real evolutionary advantage.
Hadany’s team looked at evening primroses (Oenothera drummondii) and found that within minutes of sensing vibrations from pollinators’ wings, the plants temporarily increased the concentration of sugar in their flowers’ nectar. In effect, the flowers themselves served as ears, picking up the specific frequencies of bees’ wings while tuning out irrelevant sounds like wind.
The sweetest sound
As an evolutionary theoretician, Hadany says her question was prompted by the realization that sounds are a ubiquitous natural resource—one that plants would be wasting if they didn’t take advantage of it as animals do. If plants had a way of hearing and responding to sound, she figured, it could help them survive and pass on their genetic legacy.
Since pollination is key to plant reproduction, her team started by investigating flowers. Evening primrose, which grows wild on the beaches and in parks around Tel Aviv, emerged as a good candidate, since it has a long bloom time and produces measurable quantities of nectar.
To test the primroses in the lab, Hadany’s team exposed plants to five sound treatments: silence, recordings of a honeybee from four inches away, and computer-generated sounds in low, intermediate, and high frequencies. Plants given the silent treatment—placed under vibration-blocking glass jars—had no significant increase in nectar sugar concentration. The same went for plants exposed to high-frequency (158 to 160 kilohertz) and intermediate-frequency (34 to 35 kilohertz) sounds.
But for plants exposed to playbacks of bee sounds (0.2 to 0.5 kilohertz) and similarly low-frequency sounds (0.05 to 1 kilohertz), the final analysis revealed an unmistakable response. Within three minutes of exposure to these recordings, sugar concentration in the plants increased from between 12 and 17 percent to 20 percent.
A sweeter treat for pollinators, their theory goes, may draw in more insects, potentially increasing the chances of successful cross-pollination. Indeed, in field observations, researchers found that pollinators were more than nine times more common around plants another pollinator had visited within the previous six minutes.
“We were quite surprised when we found out that it actually worked,” Hadany says. “But after repeating it in other situations, in different seasons, and with plants grown both indoors and outdoors, we feel very confident in the result.”
Flowers for ears
As the team thought about how sound works, via the transmission and interpretation of vibrations, the role of the flowers became even more intriguing. Though blossoms vary widely in shape and size, a good many are concave or bowl-shaped. This makes them perfect for receiving and amplifying sound waves, much like a satellite dish.
To test the vibrational effects of each sound frequency test group, Hadany and her co-author Marine Veits, then a graduate student in Hadany’s lab, put the evening primrose flowers under a machine called a laser vibrometer, which measures minute movements. The team then compared the flowers’ vibrations with those from each of the sound treatments.
“This specific flower is bowl- shaped, so acoustically speaking, it makes sense that this kind of structure would vibrate and increase the vibration within itself,” Veits says.
And indeed it did, at least for the pollinators’ frequencies. Hadany says it was exciting to see the vibrations of the flower match up with the wavelengths of the bee recording.
“You immediately see that it works,” she says.
To confirm that the flower was the responsible structure, the team also ran tests on flowers that had one or more petals removed. Those flowers failed to resonate with either of the low-frequency sounds.
What else plants can hear
Hadany acknowledges that there are many, many questions remaining about this newfound ability of plants to respond to sound. Are some “ears” better for certain frequencies than others? And why does the evening primrose make its nectar so much sweeter when bees are known to be able to detect changes in sugar concentration as small as 1 to 3 percent?
Also, could this ability confer other advantages beyond nectar production and pollination? Hadany posits that perhaps plants alert one another to the sound of herbivores mowing down their neighbors. Or maybe they can generate sounds that attract the animals involved in dispersing that plant’s seeds.
“We have to take into account that flowers have evolved with pollinators for a very long time,” Hadany says. “They are living entities, and they, too, need to survive in the world. It’s important for them to be able to sense their environment—especially if they cannot go anywhere.”
This single study has cracked open an entirely new field of scientific research, which Hadany calls phytoacoustics.
Veits wants to know more about the underlying mechanisms behind the phenomenon the research team observed. For instance, what molecular or mechanical processes are driving the vibration and nectar response? She also hopes the work will affirm the idea that it doesn’t always take a traditional sense organ to perceive the world.
“Some people may think, How can [plants] hear or smell?” Veits says. “I’d like people to understand that hearing is not only for ears.”
Richard Karban, an expert in interactions between plants and their pests at the University of California Davis, has questions of his own, in particular, about the evolutionary advantages of plants’ responses to sound.
“It may be possible that plants are able to chemically sense their neighbors, and to evaluate whether or not other plants around them are fertilized,” he says. “There’s no evidence that things like that are going on, but [this study] has done the first step.”
Link to national Geographic Article:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/01/flowers-can-hear-bees-and-make-their-nectar-sweeter/
Dutch Tulip & Daffodil Special!
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This week we are offering an in store special on Dutch Tulips and Daffodils!
3 Bunches of Tulips for $30
3 Bunched of Daffodils for $25
Tulips per bunch $12
Daffodils Per bunch $10
Stop in and grab some bunches to brighten up your home with some spring color during these winter months!
Crushing on Vanda Orchid week of 1/14
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A modern twist, stylish elegance and stunning colors: Vanda orchids have it all.
Vanda orchid varieties are sophisticated, elegant, and pure. Ideal as a gift or in special bouquets or arrangements. And ... Did you know that the orchid is also symbol of pure friendship?
The Vanda is not influenced by trends. Whether you want to create a stylish statement, elegant wealth or a more earthy look: what color or type you choose, the orchid is never boring!
The colors and shape of the orchid lends itself to celebrate all life events. Vanda offers a wide selection of colors, which you can use creatively in all sorts of festive occasions.
Where are they from?
Vanda originates on the southern slopes of the Himalayas and in the area from India to southern China. These orchids do not grow naturally in soil, but clings to the trunks of trees.
Vanda is a real eye-catcher. Vanda flowers have the most beautiful colors and are very long lasting, so they are useful for weeks. Vanda also can be used very well as a corsage.
Our Designers Are Gearing Up For Valentines Day!
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This week our designers and buyers are collaborating on this years Valentine’s Day Collection, here is a sneak peak on the process we take when designing a new collection.
Design Process
We look at whats trending in the industry and local market
What is or has been a popular seller with our clientele
We always like to have a theme for each collection *ie this holiday collection was a woodland theme
What flowers are readily available from out selected farms
The Flowers
We contact farms that we have relationships with to order an abundance of flowers
Each farm specializes in certain flowers therefore we uses various farms around the world that we have built up relationships with to ensure the highest quality
Once we take delivery of the flowers the designers begin to create the Valentine’s Collection for 2019
The Creation
The designers will collaborate with each other to go over the design process once again
Each designer then begins to create the vision that has been talked about and sketched into fruition
Numerous iterations of arrangements are made until the perfect collection is created
Each arrangement is then photographed and uploaded to our website, social media and design book
Stay tuned in the next week or so for the Valentine’s 2019 Collection!
Find Your New Plant Friend!
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Now that the holiday decorations are coming down, are you feeling a green void?
Come find a new plant friend to keep you company (and keep you space feeling alive) all year long!
Visit the shop for an array of foliage, flowering and large scale plants for the home! If you can’t make it in give us a call or shop online to bring some fresh greenery into your home or office!
Here are a few varieties ready to find their forever home;
4: assorted succulents and echeveria
Multiple orchid varieties
Fig topiary and bush from 6” to 14”
Strelitzia 6” to 14”
Aglaonema 8” & 10”
Calathea 6”
Dracena multiple sizes
Sansevieria multiple varieties & sizes
& much, much more
Crushing on Brunia week of 1/7
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We are crushing Brunia this week, we have found a new grower out of South Arfica who has a extremely high quality product.
Where does it come from?
Brunia originates from the Cape region in South-Africa. It is common there on hills and mountain slopes. It grows in full sun, often in moist areas next to rivers or running water. The Swedish botanist Linnaeus named the genus Brunia in 1753. The Bruniaceae plant family has been found in several fossil digs. This suggests that the plant has been around on earth between 65 to 70 million years. That is just amazing!
What does it represent?
Brunia stands symbol for chivalry. If you want to express this symbolism even more, you should use Brunia varieties which are silver colored.
Its appeal.
There are several varieties of Brunia that are sold as cut flower. The colors can range form silver to green or red. The most common varieties are Laevis, Albiflora and Bruna Silver. Brunia is year round available
Design Suggestions.
Brunia is a very easy flower to use. It is also very popular in wedding designs for decoration, bouquets and boutonnieres. The neutral tones make it easy to use with other flowers in a wide variety of colors. Brunia adds an unique texture to your designs. Use Brunia in combination with (wedding) Roses, Echevira and Freesia for great floral combinations. Apply it in wedding bouquets, large or small centerpieces, wreaths or table pieces. It is such a versatile flower that can be used as filler or the center of attention.
Orchid Of The Month Subscription On Sale!
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Each month, the recipient will receive a beautiful and unique blooming orchid to their home or office. Each plant will be different than the last – including; but not limited-to varieties such as; Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Miltonia, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis. A remarkable orchid collection will be created in no time!
All varieties are simple to care for, requiring minimal water and low sunlight. With each delivery an instruction card will be sent for proper care. Each plant will be hand chosen by our designers and planted into a decorative vessel.
To process entire payment and pay only one delivery fee - order online now! Or to setup a monthly charge call our staff to assist you; a delivery fee will apply to each delivery.
Planning A New Years Eve Party?
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Now that Christmas is behind us we’ve been focusing on a few of the New Year’s Eve party that we have lined up. New Years is a great reason to throw a over the top party, we love creating unique and fun flower arrangements or tablescapes.
Let us know how we can help with your New Years Party!
Pantone Color Of The Year 2019!
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Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.
In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.
Representing the fusion of modern life, PANTONE Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.
