Azaleabiogroup

=Living Systems Practical Sex, rewards and pollination =

Bianca, Natasha, Anthony, Harrison and Kirsty

Azalea
Plant family: Ericaceae

Origin: Japan, China and Korea

Distribution: Native to every continent except South America and Africa

Source: Jane Edmanson, 2005, Gardening Australia, From []

Habitat: Slightly acidic soil with good drainage

Flowers: Bright lavender pink

 Figure 1. Azalea with many flowers

Floral morphology
 Figure 3. Anatomy of Azalea

Table 1. Comparison of size of male and female structures Note: Measurements were carried out using calipers.The average was then taken and standard deviation was produced using excel.
 * |||||| <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Measurement (mm) ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Structure || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">1 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">2 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">3 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Mean || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Standard Deviation (mm) ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Style || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">30 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">20 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">28 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">26 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">5.291502622 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Stamen || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">27 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">22 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">26 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">25 || <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">2.645751311 ||

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">[[image:azaleabiogroup/measure.png caption="measure.png"]]
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Figure 4. Student using caliper to measure floral morphology.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Average number of stamen: 9

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Observations: Majority of anthers were partly covered in a yellow substance which we assume to be pollen <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">The male structures were located quite close to the female structures, as seen in Figure 3.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Pollination and fertilisation
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Figure 2. Pollination

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">It was noted that one of the petals has a pattern on it which may be to attract a pollinator. It may also guide the pollinator down to the middle of the flower, aiding in pollination and fetilisation. Due to flower size and structural arrangement pollination is favourably pollinated by insects, specifically by bees.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Variability of floral morphology
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Varies in colour. Additionally there was a large standard deviation regarding the style verus the stamen. And generally the style is longer than the stamen.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Pollen morphology
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Figure 5. Pollen grains

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Pollen grains appear irregular, expected to be tetrad. Figure 5 was obtained using a compound microscope, this is a useful method for counting pollen grains.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Nectar characterisation
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">At this current stage in the flowers life cycle no nectar was evident. a refractometer reading was therefore not possible. This may be due to the time of year <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">It is white or slightly yellowish without distinct aroma. fructose is the prevalent sugar along with glucose and sucrose. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">