| Marcgravia is a genus of exclusively neotropical lianas, which flower in the canopy of tropical rainforests. The bizarre inflorescences of Marcgravia serrae produce nectar in reddish nectaries that are spatially separated from the flowers. In order to get to the nectar the bats (here a Hylonycteris underwoodi) have to land within the inflorescence and so they get dusted with pollen on the belly and on the underside of the wings |
Image & text © 2000 Marco Tchapka |