What Is a Spur on a Flower? The Hollow Tube That Holds Nectar
A spur on a flower is a hollow tube or pocket that juts out behind the petals and holds nectar. NC State Extension says the spurs at the back of eastern columbine petals look like an eagle’s claw.
The short answer
A flower spur is a hollow extension behind the bloom where nectar collects. UF IFAS Extension says orchid nectar tissue often sits at the base of the lip or in a nectar spur behind the flower. Columbine has five spurred petals. The common blue violet has a small green nectar spur.
What is a flower spur?
It is a petal drawn out into a tube. NC State describes eastern columbine flowers as drooping bells with 5 petals and 5 petal like sepals. Its spurs point upward, and NC State labels a photo of the common blue violet with a green hollow pocket or nectar spur. Other flower parts are covered in cannabis seed anatomy.
| Flower | Spur note | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern columbine | Spurs at the back of the petals point upward | NC State |
| Common blue violet | Green hollow pocket or nectar spur | NC State |
| Orchids | Nectar spur behind the flower when present | UF IFAS |
How do spurs affect pollination?
They place the reward deep in the flower, so the visitor reaches into the tube to feed. The Forest Service says columbine is pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies. NC State adds that columbine gives nectar to bumblebees too. Bee visits are covered in what roles bees play in outdoor cannabis.
Which flowers have spurs?
Columbine is classic. The Forest Service describes 1.5 inch red and yellow blooms on long stems in late spring. Common blue violets have a hollow pocket NC State calls a nectar spur. UF notes some orchids carry one behind the flower. Leaf traits are covered in cannabis leaf anatomy.
How to: step by step
- Pick an open columbine or violet flower.
- Hold a hand lens close to the bloom.
- Turn the flower so you see the back of the petals.
- Look for hollow tubes or pockets.
- Compare two or three plants.
- Sketch what you see with the plant name and date.
Troubleshooting
Spur hard to spot: look at the back of the bloom.
Violet spur looks tiny: use a lens.
No spur at all: many flowers lack one. Compare with a columbine.
Kind Seed Co shares these plant notes for growers of all kinds. Garden pairing ideas are in companion plants when growing marijuana.
Sources
- Red or eastern columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), USDA Forest Service
- Aquilegia canadensis (eastern columbine), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Viola sororia (common blue violet), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Orchid pollination biology (ENH1260), UF IFAS Extension
FAQ
Why is columbine named for an eagle?
The Forest Service says the name Aquilegia comes from the Latin aquila, an eagle, because the petals are said to look like an eagle's claw.
Do violets have spurs?
Yes. NC State labels a common blue violet photo with dark purple nectar guide lines and a nectar spur.
What pollinates columbine?
The Forest Service names hummingbirds and butterflies. NC State says columbine also gives nectar to bumblebees.
Is a spur a petal or a sepal?
On columbine it is part of the petal. NC State places the spurs at the back of the flower petals.
Do orchids have spurs?
Some do. UF IFAS says orchid nectar tissue, when present, sits at the base of the lip or in a nectar spur behind the flower.
