Bats as pollinators by Ed Powers

Picture courtesy of National Wildlife Federation

The prevailing public opinion on bats has been negative.  When I was young, bats were viewed as blood-seeking, frightening critters.  Nothing could be from the truth.  I find these creatures to be very efficient and quiet.

Many people are unaware that bats play an important role in many environments around the world. Some plants depend partly or wholly on bats to pollinate their flowers or spread their seeds. Worldwide, over 500 species of flowers in at least 67 plant families rely on bats as their major or exclusive pollinators. Birds and the bees pollinate in the daylight and the bats get to work pollinating at night. Not only are these little mammals important for pollinating so many plant species; they can be pretty darn cute too!

 

Common Blossom Bats from Australia, pollinate the flowers of plants that have evolved to produce nectar to attract them. Scientists believe that many groups of flowers have evolved to attract bats, as they are able to carry much larger amounts of pollen in their fur compared to other pollinators. The ability of bats to fly long distances is also another benefit to plants, especially those that occur in low densities or in habitats far apart from each other.

As well as their keen sense of smell, bats also use sight to find nectar-producing flowers. Bat flowers are often white or light-colored in order to stand out against foliage or the night sky, but they also can range from brown and green to pink, fuchsia and yellow. Even though they only open at night, bat flowers are often dull in color, which scientists believe may function more as a camouflage from other visitors than as a visual cue to bats.

Picture courtesy of National Wildlife Federation

Did you know that bats almost exclusively pollinate wild bananas, which originate from Southeast Asia? Bats pollinate many ecologically and economically important plants from around the world. The products that we value from these plants are more than just fruits, including fibers and timbers that we use everyday. Flying foxes, nectar and fruit eating megabats from Australia, pollinate the dry eucalyptus forests, which provide us with timber and oils that are shipped around the world.

Mexican agave plants, a source of fiber and tequila, are solely reliant on the pollination services of several nectar-feeding bats. Many tropical and subtropical rainforest ecosystems also rely on bat pollinators to regenerate. Without nectar feeding, bats not only would our environment suffer, but our way of living as well!

There are 2 groups of Bats.  The first are the small, mostly insect eating bats called Microchiroptera (microbats). While species of this group are found worldwide, nectar-feeding bats from this group only inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.

The second group is Megachiroptera (megabats), a group that includes all the large bats, including flying-foxes, which predominantly eat fruit and nectar. Found in the Old World tropics of Africa, Europe, and Asia. They rely on their sight and sense of smell to find food. While they depend entirely on vision to negotiate their environment, they appear to do so quite well even in inclement weather and on moonless nights. So the old saying “blind as a bat” really isn’t true!

Bats also help control pests; they are the most common food among the 1,300 species of bats worldwide. This benefits our farmers in keeping many insect species in check. However the pollinating role many of our nectar-feeding bats play is just as important.

As you see our Bats are more than we imagined.

 

Picture courtesy of National Wildlife Federation

References:

Bat Conservation Trust

National Wildlife Conservation Blog

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Hollyhocks in Bloom by Vicky Barney

Once again I am stunned by a flowering plant in my yard, a nonnative variety I inherited from a previous homeowner. It went unnoticed until today, when I watched a hummingbird flit from flower to flower in search of sweet nectar.  Wow, my red blooming hollyhocks are gorgeous.

The Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) is part of the Mallow family, which includes a variety of plants - hibiscus, cotton, and even the cocoa tree.  Like Sweet William, it is a cottage garden favorite that is short lived but readily reseeds. It grows up to 8 feet tall, with single or double flowers in a spike and large leaves at the base.   It flowers in a wide range of colors, grows in all kinds of soil, and tolerates partial shade. Traditional gardeners find the hollyhock to be high maintenance as the leaves at the base die early, creating a shabby or leggy look unless hidden by flowers planted in front.  It is susceptible to disease and pests, and may also require staking to keep the tall stalks upright.  Hollyhocks usually are planted along a fence line or wall and bloom over the course of the summer from the bottom of the stalk up.

Then there are my hollyhocks.  My plants likely are self-sowing plants from seed sharing neighbors years ago (relatives are visible in adjacent yards).   This generation is volunteering in a graveled and untended area of the yard, standing 6 feet tall, not staked, not irrigated and not part of any garden plan.  They have dozens of buds on each stalk and are blooming randomly along the stalks, at both the top and at the bottom. The flowers are scentless and crepe-like but sturdy enough to withstand a hailstorm.  It appears there are two varieties growing, one with deep red blooms, the other with cream colored blooms, and each with a different shaped leaf.   I, like the pollinators, am more attracted to the red bloom variety.

Hollyhocks have not been a consideration in my “gardening for wildlife” plan.  The common hollyhock originated in China and was brought to England during the Crusades, so their nonnative status reduces the likelihood that they benefit the native pollinators in our community.  However, in my yard, the showy flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.  I have seen them.  And I just discovered they may be caterpillar food as well. (http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/attracting-butterflies-to-the-garden-5-504-2/)  They do well in the Colorado climate and are a great addition to xeric gardens. (http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/xeriscaping-perennials-and-annual-flowers-7-231/)  Perhaps most important (after their pollinator attracting characteristics), they require very little tending by the Steamboat gardener.  Hollyhocks bring a big burst of summer color to our casual gardens.

Vicky Barney gardens for wildlife and is a member of the Master Gardener Class of 2011.

Golds in the summer garden by Vicky Barney

As one who hates to water my garden, I’ve worried the last few weeks of hot, dry weather would be hard on my flower garden, parching even the hardiest perennials and shortening their flowering seasons.   But some of the early bloomers are still striking (penstemons, sweet william, jupiter’s beard), and the late season bloomers are beginning to put on a beautiful show.  Particularly my Golds.

Black-eyed Susan

Most visible of my Golds is a cultivated variety of the Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), a member of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family.   I planted an annual variety that reseeds (Rudbeckia hirta “Irish Eyes”) and am pleased to see it has returned this year.  It isn’t as showy, though, as a perennial variety I planted at the same time, a variety I thought was native but now I'm not so sure.   Each Susan is at least 2 feet tall, has hairy leaves and sturdy stems holding a dozen or more daisy-like yellow flowers, each 4 inches in diameter.   They are just now blooming and will likely flower for several weeks.  New plants are appearing in other areas of my yard, even in the lawn, so they may be too aggressive in some gardens.  But I am enjoying their proliferation as they are drought tolerant, attract pollinators, and provide seed for birds in the fall.  The flowers also make for beautiful cut flower arrangements. 

Showy Goldeneye

Another Gold now in bloom is the native Showy Goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora), which has been growing in my yard for the last few years.  Like the Black-eyed Susan, the Showy Goldeneye is part of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family and produces daisy-like yellow flowers.  It differs in that the flowers are smaller (up to 1 ½ inches in diameter) with golden colored eyes, the leaves are narrow and smooth, and it grows as a single slender stem or in a loose group up to 3 feet tall.  In past years, the flowers have stayed beautiful for several weeks and attract pollinators, drawing bees and butterflies. Showy Goldeneye can be seen blooming along the local trails.

Goldenrod

The most recent addition to my Gold collection is Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis).  It too is a member of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family and a native.  It appeared in my yard last summer. The plants are more vigorous and abundant this summer, surprisingly aggressive for a native volunteer.  In fact, they look like small bushes, growing in groups up to 3 feet in diameter and over 3 feet tall.  Blooms consist of clusters of tiny yellow daisy-like flowers along the top side of the upper most branches, creating an image of yellow pyramids on top of leafy stems.  Pollinators love this plant as well, and it too is blooming along the local trails.  Unlike my other Golds, though, Goldenrod may be more aggressive than I like.  I may need to corral it next spring.

California Poppy

My favorite Gold in the garden is not native to Colorado but grows happily in our climate. Easy to grow from seed, the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), a member of the poppy (Papaveraceae) family, is a delicate looking and sprawling plant that grows about 1 foot tall, reseeds readily, provides color for most of the summer, and is drought tolerant and low maintenance.  I find it blooming in nooks and crannies around my yard all summer long.  It’s tenacity makes me smile.

Follow these links for more information:
https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Native-Plant-Guide-Mountains.pdf
http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/native-herbaceous-perennials-for-colorado-landscapes-7-242/
http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/wildflowers-in-colorado-7-233/

Vicky Barney gardens for wildlife and is a member of the Master Gardener Class of 2011.