Future Huckleberries

Huckleberries have been in bloom, begging first at lower elevations, for a couple weeks now.  If all goes well and the blossoms are properly pollinated, the blossoms will be berries in the future.

The nature of huckleberry blossoms impacts the mechanics of pollination.  Whereas most flowers are easily accessible and freely expose their pollen on open anthers (male reproductive organs), the pollen of the huckleberry flower is hidden away.  For pollination to occur either a small insect will need to climb up inside the bell or a larger insect may be required to “buzz pollinate” the flower.

Buzz pollination (sometimes called sonication) is fairly rare.  Only about 9% of the flowers in the world rely on this form of pollination.  Buzz pollination requires an insect to clasp the flower, or parts of the flower, and vibrate to release pollen.  Oddly enough, honeybees are not capable of performing buzz pollination.  Many bumblebees, seeking to free some pollen for their lunch, are very efficient at this form of pollination.

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Montana State University documented insects visiting globe huckleberry flowers in May and June.  Some 47% of the visitors were bumblebees.  Wasps made up another 23% of the visitors.  Ants comprised 10% of the insects accessing the flowers.  An assortment of other leggy little critters comprised the rest. 

If nothing else, this study will make me go easier on wasps in the future.

I am in favor of anyone working to produce more huckleberries.

Pink Huckleberry Blossom

A Pair of Blossoms

—Mitchell Hegman