Question

The sage flower is pollinated by
A) Aphids
B) Butterflies
C) Bees
D) Moths

Answer 1

Hint: It lives in colonies and venom is stored by them in a sac which is attached to their stings. Except for the color red, they see all other colors. They also have a great sense of smell through which they search for flowers from which they want to collect pollen.

Complete step by step answer:
- The Sage plants are also drought-tolerant. Their flowers have a great Aroma which is loved by bees.
Pollination in Sage flowers: flowers of Sage is bilabiate i.e they have two labia (upper lip and lower lip) .
The lower lip of the petal is a landing platform for insects. In sage flowers, the male part develops first and stamens have two lobes (anther) , upper anther, and lower anther. The upper anther is fertile(produces pollen grains) and the lower one is sterile(no pollen grains produce) . When bees sit on a flower, it wants to reach till the nectariferous disc(release nectars) to suck those nectars. So, when bees try to reach, it presses the lower lip of the petal through the lever turn mechanism and fertile anther bends and deposits sticky pollen grain on the bee's abdomen.
- When the same bee tried to enter the female sage flower, the stigma burst on the surface of the bee and came in contact with pollen grains. In this way, bees play an important role in the pollination of the sage flower.

So, the correct answer is, "bees".

Additional information:
- Sage flower(Salvia officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The Colour of the flower is blue to purplish. They also have a grey leaf and a Woody stem. Sage flower is an evergreen shrub planted in the spring season and blooms from summer to Autumn.
Sage plant leaves have a pungent odor. So they don't attract animals (deer or rabbits) .
Moths: They like night-scented flowering plants. Example: Jasmine, evening primrose, etc.
Butterflies They are greatly attracted by flowers like Hollyhocks, Sunflower which they generally pollinate.
Aphids They have a sucking mouth and sucks plant sap. So, Aphids are harmful to plants.

Note:
- Sage flowers are tolerant to heat and drought.they can also be grown in containers.
- Their tubular flowers are loved by most insects, mainly bees.
- The name Salvia was derived from the Latin word Salvere, meaning healthy.