Dear Dennis: Thank you for your e-mail, I would presume that subirds visit Crocosmia in their native habitat. I find it surprising that not much has been written about birds and bulb flowers in the USA. Cheers, John E. Bryan Dennis Szeszko wrote: > > John: > > Here in Mexico there is one cormous plant that definitely attracts > hummingbirds...Bessera elegans. The flowers evolved to be pollinated > by hummingbirds and show various characteristics of hummingbird > pollinated flowers: > > 1) Pendant flowers > 2) A relatively tall scape/inflorescence > 3) Reddish coloration > 4) Protruding stigma and anthers > > I've never checked to see if Bessera elegans produces nectar, but I > would imagine that it does. > > I've also seen hummingbirds visiting Crosomia hybrids, but this is > something totally unnatural because hummingbirds only inhabit the > western hemisphere, and Crocosmia is a South African genus. It took > human intervention to get these two together. > > -Dennis > > > > > Dear All: > > > > For quite a while now, I have had a lot of pleasure in watching birds at > > the various bird feeders in my garden. I have noticed Humming Birds > > visiting red hybrid Gladiolus, but have not seen (noticed) any birds > > paying attention to flowers from other bulbs. > > > > Have any of you noticed birds paying attention or attracted to other > > flowering bulbs? I have not read nor found articles or mention about > > this subject, but feel there must be some species that will attract > > birds. Any comments? Cheers, John E. Bryan > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php