Iris atropurpurea, a huge, gorgeous, purple iris, is endemic to the Mediterranean coast of Israel. The remaining populations are scattered among a couple of dozen nature reserves, most of them tiny (less than 2 acres), but a couple of them large (probably 200 acres). These reserves were established specially for protection of the irises, but although they protect the iris plants themselves, they may not be big enough because of a peculiarity about the ecological interactions between the irises and their pollinators. Unlike most plants, the irises offer no nectar to reward their pollinators for visiting. They do have pollen that several insect species, including honeybees, collect, and these pollen collectors may pollinate the iris flowers occasionally. However, the main pollinators are the males of several species of Eucera bees that don’t collect pollen or nectar;
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