Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. It is produced either by the flowers, in which it attracts pollinating animals or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists providing anti-herbivore protection. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female Mutualism is a Biological interaction between individuals of two different Species, where both individuals derive a fitness benefit for example increased Plant defense against herbivory or host-plant resistance (HPR includes a range of Adaptations evolved It is produced in glands called nectaries.
Nectar is economically important as it is the sugar source for honey. Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the It is also useful in agriculture and horticulture because the adult stages of many predatory insects, as well as hummingbirds and butterflies, feed on nectar. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Horticulture is the art and science of plant cultivation Horticulturists (or horticuluralists) work and conduct research in the fields of Plant propagation Hummingbirds are Birds in the family Trochilidae, and are endemic to the Americas.
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Etymology
Nectar is derived from Latin nectar "drink of the gods", which in turn has its origins in the Greek word νέκταρ (néktar), presumed to be a compound of the elements nek- "death" and -tar "overcoming". Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The earliest recorded use of its current meaning, "sweet liquid in flowers", dates back to 1609. [1]
Floral nectaries
Floral nectaries are generally located at the base of the perianth, so that pollinators are made to brush the flower's reproductive structures, the anthers and pistil, while accessing the nectar. The term perianth has two similar but separate meanings in botany In Flowering plants the perianth is the outer sterile whorls of a Flower (see The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male A gynoecium (from Ancient Greek gyne, "woman" is the Female reproductive part of a Flower.
Extrafloral nectaries
Nectar produced outside the flower is generally made to attract predatory insects. These predatory insects will eat both the nectar and any plant-eating insects around, thus functioning as 'bodyguards'. [2] Extrafloral nectaries are generally located on the leaf petioles, mid-rib or leaf margin. In Botany, the petiole is the small stalk attaching the Leaf blade to the stem. They are thought to be modified trichomes and exude nectar which is sourced from phloem sap. Trichomes, from the Greek meaning "growth of Hair " are fine outgrowths or appendages on Plants and certain Protists These are of diverse In Vascular plants phloem is the living tissue that carries organic Nutrients (known as photosynthate particularly Sucrose, a sugar to Extrafloral nectaries can be found on species belonging to (amongst others) the genera: Salix, Prunus and Gossypium. Willows, sallows and osiers form the Genus Salix, around 400 species of Deciduous Trees and Shrubs found primarily Prunus is a Genus of Trees and Shrubs including the Plums cherries, Peaches Apricots and For information on cotton production industry history and applications see Cotton.
See also
References
- ^ Douglas Harper. A nectar source is a flowering plant that produces nectar as part of its reproductive strategy Nectar guides are patterns seen in some Flowers that guide pollinators to the nectar and Pollen. In Zoology, a nectarivore is an animal which eats the sugar-rich Nectar produced by Flowering plants The nectar source in a given area depends on the type of Vegetation present and the length of their bloom period Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved on 2007-09-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a
- ^ Plant-Provided Food for Carnivorous Insects - Cambridge University Press
Dictionary
nectar
-noun
- (mythology) The drink of the Ancient gods.
- (recorded since 1609) (botany) The sweet liquid secreted by flowers to attract pollinating insects and birds.
- (by extension) Any delicious drink.
- A soft drink, made from fruit juice, water and sweetener.
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