'Bee' thankful for the evolution of pollen

(University of Missouri-Columbia) Over 80% of the world's flowering plants must reproduce in order to produce new flowers, according to the US Forest Service. This process involves the transfer of pollen between plants by wind, water or insects called pollinators -- including bumblebees. In a new study, researchers at the University of Missouri discovered spiny pollen -- from a native wild dandelion species in the southern Rocky Mountains -- has evolved to attach to traveling bumblebees.

Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - May 20, 2020 Category: Biology Source Type: news