Nectar+Characterisation

Methods
In this sectar our aim was to characterise the volume and sugar content of the nectar of our bottle brush. We attempted to use glass capillary tubes to extract nectar from our flowers. The sugar content of the extracted nectar was then to be measured using a refractometer.


 * [[image:flowerpowerlab/refractometer.jpg width="302" height="406" align="left"]] ||
 * Refractometer used to measure sugar content of extracted nectar ||

Our Results
No substantial nectar was extracted and hence, there was no result values. A few mL of nectar were extract which indicates that the bottlebrush does produce nectar. Additionally, anthers extracted from the samples had sticky ends, suggesting sugar is present in the nectar. The typical volume of nectar in the bottlebrush flower will vary depending on the quantity of individual buds that bloomed in the season (measured between 5 and 8uL). Additionally, the sugar content of the flower has been known to be calculated at ~25%.

Low yeild may have been due to:
 * Time of day
 * Time of picking flower
 * Age of the flower

Nectar Characterisation
We can gather an idea of what the possible organisms are which pollinate and feed on the nectar in these plants by looking at their morphology:
 * Nectar is available and hence there are indeed nectar feeding birds and insects that feed off this plant
 * The nectar is located within the style of each flower which would require the animal to be able to reach in effectively (long beak, thin body, etc)
 * The anthers and stamen are red in colour, therefore seeming attractive to these birds and insects

Team Members

 * Ivana Amin
 * Jason Hawkins
 * Fei Fei Jin
 * Lillian Paterson
 * Katie Quail

THE CRIMSON BOTTLEBRUSH