nectariferous

Nectariferous is an adjective used in botany to describe tissues, organs, or plants that produce nectar. In most common usage, it refers to floral nectaries—the glandular tissues within flowers that secrete a sugary liquid to attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds. The term can also apply to extrafloral nectaries, which are nectar-secreting glands located on leaves, stems, or other non-floral structures that often function in plant defense through mutualism with ants or other insects.

Nectariferous tissue occurs in various floral arrangements. Floral nectaries may be located at petals, sepals, or reproductive organs and can secrete nectar into nectary glands, nectar canals, or spur structures. Extrafloral nectaries are common in many plant groups and can produce nectar independent of the flower’s reproductive cycle. The production of nectar is influenced by environmental conditions and plant physiology, and nectar secretion can be seasonal or ritualized during flowering.

Ecological significance centers on pollination and plant defense. Nectar provides a reward that encourages pollinators to visit flowers, aiding pollen transfer and genetic diversity. In extrafloral nectaries, the attraction of ants or other scouting mutualists can deter herbivores or attract protective insects. Nectar composition is primarily sugars (such as sucrose, glucose, and fructose) with varying amounts of amino acids, organic acids, and trace compounds, which can influence pollinator feeding preferences.

See also: nectary, nectar, pollination biology.