In article ,
David Bockman wrote:

"Rev \"Fragile Warrior\"" wrote in
:

I was just mourning the fact that the beautiful red blossoms on my
Passion Flower vine only live a single day same as the Daylilies that
I love so much. But now I'm wondering why? Does anyone know the
biological explanation for why some flowers bloom for days and days
and others only bloom one turning of the sun? Not to mention the
kinds of flowers that only bloom a single night.

I would think a longer blooming cycle enhances the possibility of
fertilization so there must be some good reason why the flower's bloom
cycle is so short. I even understand why tropical flowers bloom at
night (because insects and breezes and animals are more likely to be
out at night in the tropics, right?) but the short bloom cycle has me
baffled.

Help, please!
Thx,
Giselle



It's all about energy conservation. Blooming requires a great deal of a
plant's available energy energy which otherwise could go towards vegetative
and root growth, so over time a genus/variety will reach an equilibrium
wherein the bloom time is the absolute minimum needed for continuing
propogation of itself.

Don't forget that the transiency of the bloom some how reminds of our
own.

Bill

--
Garden Shade Zone 5 in a Japanese Jungle manner.
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