Credit: NEIL BROMHALL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Timelapse footage of a developing flower of Arum maculatum. This common woodland plant is also known as lords and ladies and cuckoo pint. The true flowers are hidden beneath the brown spadix, enclosed by a green spathe. The spadix heats up and emits the smell of faeces, which attracts insects. These enter the lower chamber of the flower head and are trapped by a network of hairs. The insects are dusted with pollen while trapped, before the hairs wither away, freeing the pollen-covered insects to pollinate other flowers nearby. Cropped from 4288x2848 pixels. See clip K005 3643 for a version with aspect ratio 16:9.

Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.

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