​Daichi Funamoto

Bell-shaped moth flowers

Flowers pollinated by specific animals often share sets of floral traits (e.g. shape and color).

For example, bee-pollinated flowers are blue, bell-shaped and pendant, while moth-pollinated flowers are white and narrow-tubed. The pattern has been considered outcomes of convergent adaptation to pollinators, referred to as pollination syndromes. 

Adenophora triphylla is a striking example because this flower doesn't fit classical pollination syndrome. The flowers apparently fit bee-pollination syndrome (pale blue, pendant, bell-shaped, and without sweet fragrance). However, the flowers are primarily pollinated by moths (Fig. 1). Moreover, the flowers show hidden adaptation to moths such as nocturnal anthesis and nocturnal nectar production.