Why do flowers produce nectar?
Almost every aspect of flowers functions to further their reproduction, from the color and shape of their blooms to nectar production. Nectar’s role in reproduction is a pivotal one, necessary to the survival of the plant’s species.Food for fertilizationFlowers produce nectar to attract pollinators. As the birds or insects feed on the nectar, they collect pollen and then carry it to the next flower.Cross-PollinationMost plants have developed mechanisms to prevent self-pollination, because genetic diversity helps preserve the species. Plants attract pollinators to make cross-pollination and fertilization between different plants of the same species possible.SpecializationFlowers choose their pollinators by scent, color and shape to draw the same pollinators to ingest the nectar of the flowers belonging to the same species. This aids in production of fertile seeds.StickinessThe stickiness of nectar is by design, because most pollinators have high energy demands and require food with a hi
