In the top image we see clumps of pollen from Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. The sample was obtained at 3:45 PM on May 9th, 2019. It was obtained by inserting a needle into the centers of several different flowers on the plant and then using the needle to transfer pollen from the flowers to a glass slide. The particular plant from which the pollen was obtained was purchased in March from a wholesale flower market in downtown Los Angeles and has been since sitting in the window of a dormitory building on Caltech’s campus in Pasadena, CA. The bottom image is of the plant and location from which the pollen was taken.

The species of the plant this pollen came from is Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. This plant is native to Madagascar but is also a common house plant. Common names include Madagascar widow’s thrill, Christmas Kalanchoe, and flaming Katy.

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