Friday 8 June 2012: trigger plant
Stylidium, or trigger plants, have a very crafty reproductive system (comprising both male and female organs), and depending on the cycle of the plant, pollen is either collected or deposited preventing self pollination.
In the form of a spring loaded trigger tucked away under the four petals , the floral column catapaults into action when an insect lands on the flower.
Most of the 300 species are only found in Aus and they have very impressive trick to perform. If you 'tickle' the heart of the plant wth a tiny frond of grass or the like the column will 'pop up' and after about an hour or so will reset for the next visitor.
Very cool!
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