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other uses of Nectar is a sugar -rich liquid produced by plants. It is produced in glands called nectaries , either within the flower s, in which it attracts pollination|pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries , which provide a nutrient source to animal Mutualism (biology)|mutualists , which in turn provide plant defense against herbivory#Indirect defenses|anti-herbivore protection . Common nectar-consuming pollinator s include bee s, butterfly|butterflies and moth s, hummingbird s and Bat#Fruits and flower nectar|bats .
Nectar is an ecologically important item, the sugar source for honey . It is also useful in agriculture and horticulture because the adult stages of some predatory insects feed on nectar.Examples needed|date=June 2010 Nectar secretion increases as the flower is visited by pollinators. After pollination, the nectar is frequently reabsorbed into the plant.
Etymology
Nectar is derived from Latin nectar , the favored drink of the gods, which in turn is the Latin ized version of Greek language|Greek ???ta?, néktar , presumed to be a compound of the PIE roots *nek- , "death", and -*tar , "overcoming", i.e. has a similar etymology to ambrosia , the immortality-conferring food of the gods. The earliest recorded use of its current meaning, "sweet liquid in flowers," is 1609 C.E.Cite web|url= http://www.etymonline.com/index.php? term=nectar|title=Online Etymology Dictionary|author=Douglas Harper|accessdate=2007-09-26
Floral nectaries
Floral nectaries are generally located at the base of the perianth , so that pollinators are made to brush the flower's reproductive structures, the anthers and pistil , while accessing the nectar.
Extrafloral nectaries
Nectar produced outside the flower is generally made to attract predatory insects. These predatory insects will eat both the nectar and any plant-eating insects around, thus functioning as 'bodyguards'. http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp? isbn=0521819415 Plant-Provided Food for Carnivorous Insects - Cambridge University Press Extrafloral nectaries are generally located on the leaf petiole (botany)|petioles , mid-rib or leaf margin. They are thought to be modified trichome s and exude nectar from phloem sap. Extrafloral nectaries can be found on species belonging to (amongst others) the genera Salix , Prunus and Gossypium . In passion flower Passiflora extrafloral nectaries prevent herbivores by attracting ants and deterring two species of butterflies from laying eggs. cite web|last=Sezen|first=Uzay|title=Ants defending extrafloral nectaries of the passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)|url= http://vimeo.com/34448448|accessdate=06 January 2012 In many carnivorous plant s, nectar serves to attract insect prey.Merbach, M. 2001. Nectaries in Nepenthes . In: C.M. Clarke Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia . Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
Natural components of nectar
Although its main ingredient is natural sugar (i.e., sucrose (table sugar), glucose , and fructose ), http://books.google.com/books? id=0L1cTNozMw8C& pg=PA8& lpg=PA8& dq=Nectar+components& source=bl& ots=Z-6xPqUw21& sig=usWTYMAclZSov9jKZg5ilhVRso0#PPA9,M1 Nicolson, Susan W.; Nepi, Massimo; Pacini, Ettore (Eds.), "Nectaries and Nectars", Springer Publications, 2007 p.9) nectar is a brew of many chemicals. For example, the Nicotiana attenuata , a tobacco plant native to the US state of Utah , uses several volatility (chemistry)|volatile aromas to attract pollinating birds and moths. The strongest such aroma is benzyl acetone, but the plant also adds bitter nicotine , which is less aromatic and therefore may not be detected by the bird until after taking a drink. Researchers speculate the purpose of this addition is to drive the bird away after only a sip, motivating it to visit other plants to fill its hunger, and therefore maximizing the pollination efficiency gained by the plant for a minimum nectar output. Chemical & Engineering News , Vol. 86 No. 35, 1 Sept. 2008, "Two-Faced Flowers", p. 11 Neurotoxins such as aesculin are present in some nectars such as that of the California Buckeye . http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_info.asp? thingid=82383 C.Michael Hogan (2008) Aesculus californica , Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg All twenty of the normal amino acid s found in protein have been identified in various nectars, with alanine , arginine , serine , proline , glycine , isoleucine , threonine , and valine being the most prevalent. http://www.bb.iastate.edu/necgex/Nectar.htm Nectar - Amino Acids. Robert Thornburg, 04/06/01, Iowa state University. Accessed April 2011.
See also
Nectar guide
Nectar source
Nectarivore
Northern nectar sources for honey bees
References
reflist
Bibliography
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