Super Smells Many flowers depend on butterflies, bees, and birds to move pollen. T ese flowers open during the day when these animals are active. T ey also use bright colors and sweet smells to attract pollinators. Flowers that attract bats do these


things, too. Most open only at night, though. T at’s when bats are active. T e flowers also give off a smell.


Some, like the sea bean, smell like garlic. Others smell like onions. T ese smells attract bats. Smell is an important way flowers call bats. Yet it’s not the only way.


Sights and Sounds Some flowers that bats visit are pale yellow or white. T ey have a faint glow. T at makes them easier to see in the dark. T at tells me that these flowers also use light as a way to call their pollinators. Some nights in the jungle are really


dark, though. It’s hard for bats to see anything! T ey’d have to get pretty close to a white or yellow flower to spot it. Bats must have another way to find flowers. Simon says that some flowers grow special parts. T ese parts reflect sounds that bats can hear.


This fl ower makes a strong garlic smell to help a bat fi nd it in the dark.


12 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


This fl ower makes a strong garlic smell to help a bat fi nd it in the dark.


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