Jennifer Ebeling · @GardenerPodcast
523 followers · 447 posts · Server mindly.social
#December 17, 1858
#OTD Charles Morren, #Belgian #Botanist & #Horticulturist, died.
He #Solved a 300-year-old #Botanical #Mystery when he #Discovered that #Vanilla was #Pollinated by the #Melipone ("meh-lip-in-ah") #Bee, a #Social & stingless bee #Native to #Mexico. Like #Monarchs + #Milkweed, they #CoEvolved over #Time.
In 1841, Edmond Albius, a 12-year-old slave discovered that Vanilla could be pollinated w/ a #Blade of #Grass or stick. Today almost all vanilla is hand-pollinated.
#December #otd #belgian #botanist #horticulturist #solved #botanical #mystery #discovered #vanilla #pollinated #melipone #bee #social #native #mexico #monarchs #milkweed #coevolved #time #Blade #grass #spice