Azalea+-+Rhododendron+japonicum

Living Systems Practical Sex, rewards and pollination

Group Members: Madison Hughes, Kait Preece, Georgia Manser, Elkie Papadatos

**Azalea** - //Rhododendron japonicum//

 * Plant species:** //Rhododendron japonicum//
 * Plant family:** Ericaceae
 * Common name:** Azalea
 * Distribution:** Sandy soils, prefers to grow in shade.
 * Habit:** Shrub to 2m in height

Flowers grow out from the stems at 45 degree angles, and the angle between the paired flowers is 90 degrees. Flowers protruding from the stem are in pairs, with 8-10 stamen and a single anther per flower. The male stamen and the female stigma are positioned together in the same flower. The egg can be fertilised at the same time as the stamen are producing sperm.
 * Flowers:** Medium pink flowers, five petals per flower, naturally bright colours, fluorescent pattern on the petals and fluorescent pollen is visible in the UV spectrum to attract insects like hymenoptera. The anther is angled down to pick up the pollen collected on the insects back from brushing past the stamen on other plants. The stamen are shorter than the anther to encourage conspecificity, and increase the likelihood of pollen being deposited by visiting insects.
 * Fruit:** no visible fruit
 * Seed:** no visible seeds




 * Azalea Buds**


 * Open Azalea Flowers**


 * Floral Morphology**


 * Flower number || Shape || Colour || Length (mm) || Width (mm) || Height (mm) || Stigma length (mm) || Stamen Length (mm) || Nectar volume uL || Sugar Brix % ||  ||
 * 1 || pentagonal funnel || pink || 55 || 45 || 30 || 30 || 25 || no measurable nectar || N/A ||  ||
 * 2 || pentagonal funnel || pink || 47 || 45 || 43 || 25 || 27 || no measurable nectar || N/A ||  ||
 * 3 || pentagonal funnel || pink || 52 || 37 || 45 || 28 || 28 || no measurable nectar || N/A ||  ||
 * 4 || pentagonal funnel || pink || 45 || 42 || 38 || 32 || 26 || no measurable nectar || N/A ||  ||
 * 5 || pentagonal funnel || pink || 51 || 39 || 35 || 33 || 29 || no measurable nectar || N/A ||  ||
 * ||  || Average || 50.0 || 41.6 || 38.2 || 29.6 || 27 || NIL || N/A ||   ||
 * ||  || St. Dev || 4.0 || 3.6 || 6.1 || 3.2 || 1.6 || NIL || N/A ||   ||


 * Male and female structures of the Azalea flower**

Collectively the sepals are known as the calyx, and the petals are collectively called the carola. The stigma, ovary and style are collectively called the carpel, and the anther and filament are called the stamen. The spot pattern on the lowermost petals fluoresce to guide bees to landing on this petal for optimal pollen dispersal and pollen deposition for fertilisation.




 * Pollen from the Azalea flower**


 * Pollen:** The isolated pollen granules were viewed under a microscope with UV light. They are organised as tetrads and the pollen can be seen to fluoresce brightly. This fluorescence is to attract insects like bees that see UV wavelengths.


 * Please note:** The data in this report may not be replicable and will vary according to growth conditions, genetic diversity within the species, environmental factors such as drought, humidity, UV exposure and wind exposure.