September 11, 2013
Closed Gentian, Gentiana clausa
This beautiful blue native wildflower looks as if it is a bud about to open, but in fact, this is as far as it opens, even as it dries and goes to seed. Insects that want to collect nectar and pollen have to struggle in between the adjacent petals to get in. In some cases they simply poke a hole in the side and "steal" the nectar without pollinating the flower.