buzzpollinating

Buzz pollination, also known as sonication pollination, is a specialized method of pollen release that is used by a relatively small number of flowering plants, most famously by those in the family Solanaceae, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, and blueberries. This unique pollination strategy requires the vibration of the flower's anthers.

In most plants, pollen is released passively from the anthers when they split open. However, in buzz-pollinated flowers, the anthers form a cone or tube, and the pollen is held tightly within. For the pollen to be released, the anther must be vibrated at a specific resonant frequency.

This vibration is typically performed by certain species of bees, particularly bumblebees. These bees land on the flower and grasp the anthers with their legs and wings. They then rapidly contract their flight muscles, causing their bodies to vibrate at the required frequency. This vibration shakes the pollen loose from the anthers, causing it to be ejected from pores at the tip of the anthers, often in a visible cloud. The bee then collects this pollen on its body or in specialized pollen baskets.

This adaptation ensures that these plants are primarily pollinated by bees capable of performing buzz pollination, reducing competition from other pollinators. Without buzz pollination, many of these plants would produce significantly less fruit and seed.