From Petals to Pollinators: How Bauhinia galpinii Adapts to Its Butterfly Visitors

From Petals to Pollinators: How Bauhinia galpinii Adapts to Its Butterfly Visitors

Imagine a flower as a stage, with every part playing a role in the grand performance of pollination. In Bauhinia galpinii, a plant native to southern and eastern Africa, some of these floral “actors” take centre stage, while others remain as silent props. The stamens, responsible for producing pollen, are doing their part, but alongside them stand staminodes—sterile structures that don’t make pollen yet still draw attention with their curious sh…