Debes iniciar sesión o registrarte antes de continuar.
This "Johnny-Jump-Up" is a domesticated selection of V. tricolor, one of the species used to breed modern pansies. I prefer growing these little guys to the larger pansies because they are more durable in our often unpredictable spring weather (plus, they're cuter).
This flower has a couple of features that indicate it is adapted to attract bees. The bilateral symmetry (having only one way that you can cut it across the face and get two mirror-image parts) gives it a lip (the lower, larger, central petal) that serves as a landing pad. The dark "whiskers" are nectar guides pointing the bee toward pollen and treats (and to the parts of the flower where pollination will occur).
This plant is a volunteer seedling of one I planted last spring. They don't manage to reseed in my broader yard (just as well), but in planters with low competition and soft soil, I typically get several volunteers a season.
Cincinnti Nature Center