How Flowers and Pollinators Co-Evolved

Flowers and pollinators have been evolving together for 130+ million years. Bees see ultraviolet patterns invisible to humans that guide them to nectar. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers are red (bees cannot see red) and tubular.

Moth-pollinated flowers are white and fragrant at night. Beetle-pollinated flowers (like magnolias) have tough petals and strong fruity scents. Wind-pollinated flowers produce massive amounts of pollen but have no petals.

Over 87% of flowering plants depend on animal pollinators. This mutualism is one of the most successful evolutionary strategies in the history of life..