Nature's Micro-Sculptures: Pollen

Pollen comes in all shapes and sizes - at a microscopic level. When magnified the unique shapes become apparent, they are natural sculptures. Andrew Thornhill is the botany lecturer at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW. Through his work with the State Herbarium of South Australia and the University of Adelaide he created 3D pollen models of plants that grow in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Each 3D model is enlarged 1000 times its actual size and each shape gives a hint as to how the plant is pollinated.

How pollen came to be is a story in itself that will enlighten a feature of plants that you probably didn't know existed.

Andrew will explain everything you need to know about pollen shape evolution while at the same time giving a hands on experience to the world of pollen.

Funding for the models was kindly provided by Inspiring SA