GORGEOUS MAGNOLIAS ARE SO ANCIENT THAT THEY ARE POLLINATED BY BEETLES INSTEAD OF BEES

The magnolia flower's enormous, exquisite blossoms are one way that many people start to recognize the coming of spring. Magnolia trees are located all over the world, and for millennia, their exquisite shapes have had cultural, therapeutic, and aesthetic significance. But if you ever happen to be close to a magnolia tree, pay close attention. You'll see that beetles, not bees, are moving among the petals.

Then why beetles instead of bees? It's easier than you might imagine. A long time before bees existed, magnolias were already in existence. In actuality, they have existed for more than 100 million years, while beetles have survived for even longer—roughly 300 million years.

Magnolias, which bear the name of the French botanist Pierre Magnol, are among the world's oldest flower families. (To put things in perspective, dinosaurs were still walking on Earth at this time.) The pollinators that we are most familiar with, bees and butterflies, had not yet evolved in this ancient environment. The de facto agents for the survival of the magnolia were beetles, which were the main insect pollinators at the time.

The magnolia's appearance and fragrance reflect this collaboration between the flower and the beetle. Large and bowl-shaped, the blossoms are perfect for beetles to get into. Additionally, because their partner pollinators are more adept at navigating by scent than sight, their petals have more subdued hues. This brings us to the third, and possibly most recognisable, characteristic of the magnolia flower: its enticing aroma, which draws beetles to it in an attempt to replicate the aroma of ripening or fermenting fruit.

The durability of the magnolia's petals is another feature that demonstrates its sophisticated evolution. The magnolia has evolved thick, leathery petals, in contrast to many flowers that are typically thought of as delicate.

This is to endure the sometimes awkward and abrasive movement of the beetle inside its centre. The beetle isn't the most advanced pollinator in the world. They are unable to engage in more complex pollination actions or hover to gather nectar, or nectar at all. It is more of a pleasant accident how they pollinate. Beetles will tear through flower petals in pursuit of food, frequently creating a mess in the process. However, as they continue their quest, they also get covered in pollen, which they then transfer to the next bloom and the one after that.

At least for our beloved magnolias, the beetle's pollination strategy has endured over time, despite being less advanced than that of bees or butterflies. The cooperation between insects and the antique flower is evidence of the tenacity and ancient origins of both of these entities. Due to straightforward, tried-and-true development, the magnolia, which has robust petals and a strong fragrance, is still flourishing now as it was millions of years ago.