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13 May 2009

arum

Arum cylindraceum.

They're right now beginning to flower, and flowering fully, and withering away already - all that at the same time.

Which is easy to explain: they have a fly-catcher flower, flies are trapped inside that flower until they have pollinated them; when they have the flower will wilt, and after a couple of days release the insect trapped in there. The last picture in this series is one of those which soon will release its pollinator.

It is a mean trick, isn't it? Those insects have to do work for which they are rewarded with nothing but a few days in prison.