keithp2012 said:Got a question. Since zinnias and marigolds are built similar in the reproductive area, how can I find pollen on white marigolds where all parts of the flower are exactly the same color and the multi petals make it even more difficult.
Hi Keith,
Well, first of all, I don't have any experience hybridizing marigolds, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. That said, the functionality of the individual marigold flower parts doesn't have anything to do with their color. The disk florets (pollen containing parts in the center of the bloom) produce pollen regardless of whether they are white, yellow, or orange. You could just "be the bee" and use an artist's brush to pick up pollen from the center of the bloom. Bees don't know anything about flower anatomy, other than where to find the nectar. And they may be like butterflies, and have an incredible sense of smell for nectar.
You could tear a marigold bloom apart to explore the functionality of the various floral parts. And you could do an Internet search on "marigold flower parts" or "marigold flower anatomy" or some such thing.
Don't hesitate to sacrifice a few marigold blooms "in the name of science". Maybe use a magnifying glass or even a microscope. I have torn a lot of zinnia blooms apart, and I have a head mounted magnifier that I use for close work.
ZM
