An unexpected floral scentSourced
The flower imitates an injured bee
Southern Africa’s Ceropegia sandersonii has umbrella-shaped flowers. It attracts certain flies by imitating the scent of an injured honey bee. Flies enter the floral tube, are temporarily trapped and leave with pollen.
A pollination invitation need not smell conventionally floral.
Summary / translation: Unbubly · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Ceropegia sandersonii · Wikimedia contributors
Adapted, summarized and translated from the source. Adapted text is also available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reviewed: 2026-10-09