‘Bee’ thankful for the evolution of pollen

Over 80% of the world’s flowering plants must reproduce in order to produce new flowers. This process involves the transfer of pollen between plants by wind, water or insects called pollinators — including bumblebees. In a new study, researchers at the University of Missouri discovered spiny pollen — from a native wild dandelion species in the southern Rocky Mountains — has evolved to attach to traveling bumblebees.