Extrafloral Nectaries(EFN)...

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RON_CONVOLVULACEAE Netcong, NJ(Zone 5b) Aug 27, 2007

Most people are aware that plants have floral nectaries,but many plants including most Morning Glories also have extrafloral nectaries and structures/glands that are tantamount to EFN's...

Here is a link to a post in the Vines and Climbers forum where I posted some links about EFN's...for those who may find the subject interesting...

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=3840661
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=3906562

TTY,...

Ron

Post #3907118
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ByndeweedBeth scio, oregon, OR(Zone 8a) Aug 27, 2007

Hmmm...is that what hummingbirds are after when they probe around the OUTSIDE of the bloom? Or are they just confused?

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RON_CONVOLVULACEAE Netcong, NJ(Zone 5b) Aug 28, 2007

Hummingbirds certainly know how to locate their food source and EFN's can produce enough nectar to form a coating on the surrounding tissue...

Nectar from EFN's tends to encourage yeast growth while inhibiting other microbes...

Ipomoea carnea has the largest extrafloral nectaries of any Ipomoea...

TTY,...

Ron

P.S. - Here's a link that mentions jumping spiders feeding on the nectar from EFN's...
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:AvESJ0lD7JIJ:www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/essays/2005su_naturenectar.html+extrafloral+hummingbirds+%22jumping+spiders%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&lr=lang_en

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KevinTernes Goodlettsville, TN(Zone 6a) Aug 28, 2007

It is hard not to notice in my yard that the Ipomoea carnea has the most ants swarming all over it--even when there are no blooms--apparently due to the EFNs. The article Ron links to mentions what these ants are up to. Ipomoea pandurata is a close second as far as the ant count goes.

Also, it seems that the carnea attracts more wasps than any other plant in the yard.

This message was edited Aug 28, 2007 4:27 PM

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