Satynblom

Tags

bulb, Clania glenlyonensis, Flowers, Monkey Beetle, Namaqualand, nature, photography, plants, Pollen, pollinator, Romulea Momadelpha, Satynblom, South African endemic plant

The Satynblom is a stemless geophyte occuring in the Hantam Karoo
The lovely large glossy red flowers (hence the common namesatynblom), have black markings on the inside and anther filaments that are fused into a column.

The Monkey Beetle (Clania glenlyonensis) ” is a main pollinator of Romulea monadelpha and within the Hantam National Botanical Garden. It also visits a range of other flowers, and because of its rapid and busy flight, high loads of pollen carried on its hairy body, and large numbers, it is considered a keystone pollinator.

Satyn Flower
Romulea monadelpha

“The Bees Knees”

Tags

Bee, bee pollen, environment, honey bees, honeybee, nature, Pollen, Pollen basket, pollen baskets, pollen press, quotes, worker honey bees

“The bee’s knees,” a phrase which means “the height of excellence,” became popular in the USA in the 1920s and is still used today. The bee’s “corbiculae”, or pollen-baskets, are located on its tibiae (mid-segments of its legs – knee area). Also part of the tibia is the auricle, part of the “pollen press” which worker honey bees use to press pollen together before it is pushed up into the pollen basket (the corbicula). If you buy bee pollen and find it in little balls, the bee’s knees did that. The “bee’s knees” area is, while small, very crucial for the success of the foraging bee. Some people think that this phrase is so cool, they have gotten bees tattooed on their knees!

The Blue Marguerite

Tags

Africa, blue marguerite, Cape Town, companion plants, Felicia amelliodes, flower spider, flying insects, Marguerite, Pollen, pollen grains, Provinces, sandy soils, South Africa, Western Cape

The Blue Marguerite (Felicia Ameliodes) is an eye catching indigenous edition to any garden here in the Western Cape. It flowers most of the year, and reseeds itself all over the garden. The seedlings are easily harvested and transplanted to where they are needed.

It is extremely water-wise and tolerates the Western Cape winds. It is hardy, long flowering, and even frost resistant and needs only moderate care, thriving in sandy soils.

• Good companion plants include Scabiosa africana , S. “Blue Butterfly” S. “Pink Mist”, variousHelichrysium species, Agapanthus species and cultivars, and Bulbine frutescense.

Ecology
Felicias are visited by bees and small flying insects, such as wasps and butterflies. They also have tiny thrips running around the florets, usually carrying pollen grains on their bodies. Sometimes a bright yellow ‘flower’ spider lurks in the daisy’s center, matching the disc florets perfectly. Whatever animal achieves pollination, it is generally very successful as full heads of seed are the norm.

 Felicia amelloides can be seen on one of our South African stamps.

“The Bees Knees”

Tags

Bee, bee pollen, environment, honey bees, honeybee, nature, Pollen, Pollen basket, pollen baskets, pollen press, quotes, worker honey bees

“The bee’s knees,” a phrase which means “the height of excellence,” became popular in the USA in the 1920s and is still used today. The bee’s “corbiculae”, or pollen-baskets, are located on its tibiae (mid-segments of its legs – knee area). Also part of the tibia is the auricle, part of the “pollen press” which worker honey bees use to press pollen together before it is pushed up into the pollen basket (the corbicula). If you buy bee pollen and find it in little balls, the bee’s knees did that. The “bee’s knees” area is, while small, very crucial for the success of the foraging bee. Some people think that this phrase is so cool, they have gotten bees tattooed on their knees!