Photos of the Day: October 11, 2015

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Rare peek inside a soapwort gentian …

 

Gentiana saponaria (soapwort gentian) Linville Gorge
Soapwort gentian (Gentiana saponaria) blooms are usually closed like this. Bees and other pollenators pry apart the petals, crawl inside to harvest nectar, and while in there they get painted with the plants pollen…. (Photo: Nick)

 

Gentiana saponaria (soapwort gentian) Linville Gorge
… but this one happens to be open, so we get a chance to peek inside… (Photo: Nick)

 

Gentiana saponaria (soapwort gentian) Linville Gorge
… Inside the petals are patterned with bold stripes, very different than the outside. (Photo: Nick)