From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Sacramento, Ca USA

Why are male flowers covered?

6/27/2003 2:19:33 AM

Chesterfield, MO

Male flowers are covered simply to protect the pollen inside from being taken by the bees before you get out there.

6/27/2003 6:24:24 AM

Long Island,New York

They actually are covered to prevent bees from "dropping off" foriegn pollen when they get into the male flowers...if they do this and you then use that male in your pollination then you can be contaminating your cross with foriegn pollen. This would then be a form of "open pollination".
Bees dont practice pollination or do it on purpose...pollination is a by-product of a "pollen-dirty bee" foraging around your females looking for food....pollen from a male they just visited gets stuck to them as the dig in...just as pollen drops off them as they dig in looking for food in the female flowers...........

6/27/2003 5:06:58 PM