Amsonia ciliata – Fringed Bluestar
Botanical Family Apocynaceae
Bloom Time March – June
Dispersal Unit Monad
Aperture Number 3
Aperture Type Compound
Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate
Tectum Semitectate
Size (um)
Shape Round
Pollen Source
Nectar Source
Flower photos contributed by Mount Cuba
Botanical Family Apocynaceae
Bloom Time March – April
Dispersal Unit Monad
Aperture Number 3
Aperture Type Colpus
Ornamentation Psilate
Tectum Eutectate
Size (um)
Shape Round
Pollen Color
Pollen Source
Nectar Source
Flower photos contributed by Mount Cuba
Amsonia rigida – Stiff Bluestar
Botanical Family Apocynaceae
Bloom Time April – May
Dispersal Unit Monad
Aperture Number 3
Aperture Type Compound
Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate
Tectum Semitectate
Size (um)
Shape Round
Pollen Color
Pollen Source
Nectar Source
Flower photos from Mount Cuba
Botanical Family Sapindaceae
Bloom Time March – June
Dispersal Unit Monad
Aperture Number 3
Aperture Type Compound
Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate
Tectum Eutectate
Size (um)
Shape Round
Pollen Color Red
Pollen Source • • •
Nectar Source • • •
The pollen of Aesculus spp. is known to cause a lot of dusting on the body of the foraging bee. Typically, the Aesculus spp. pollen creates a dusting on the posterior thorax, and the posterior and anterior abdomen of the foraging bee. Pollen has also been noted on the wings of bees visiting Aesculus for nectar instead of pollen.
Hodges, D. (1952). The pollen loads of the honey bee: a guide to their identification by colour and form. London: Bee Research Assoc. Ltd.
Flower photos contributed by Mount Cuba
Botanical Family Magnoliaceae
Bloom Time May – June
Dispersal Unit Monad
Aperture Number 1
Aperture Type Sulcus
Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate
Tectum Eutectate
Size (um)
Shape Oval
Pollen Color Cream, White
Pollen Source • •
Nectar Source • • •
Botanical Family Asteraceae
Bloom Time June–November
Dispersal Unit Monad
Aperture Number 3
Aperture Type Colpus
Ornamentation Echinate
Tectum Eutectate
Size (um)
Shape Round
Pollen Color Yellow
Pollen Source • •
Nectar Source •
Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba
Botanical Family Apocynaceae
Bloom Time April – May
Dispersal Unit Monad
Aperture Number 3
Aperture Type Compound
Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate
Tectum Eutectate
Size (um) 56
Shape Round
Pollen Color
Pollen Source
Nectar Source
Flower photos from Mount Cuba
The Anther's Promise 