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But, cleverly, the Heliconia rations the amount of nectar it produces
但艳红赫蕉 狡猾地控制花蜜的生产量
to force the hummingbird into returning to the flower time and time again.
迫使蜂鸟再三回来吸食
Every time it makes a visit, it picks up more pollen on its beak and feathers.
蜂鸟每来一次 鸟喙和羽毛上就沾上更多花粉
The hummingbird is like an addict. Not only does it never stray,
蜂鸟像上瘾了一样 不但不会离开
but it will aggressively defend the flowers from thieves.
还会全力赶走 想来窃取花蜜的小偷
The plant is the master in this relationship.
在这段主奴关系里 植物才是主子
To ensure it gets pollinated, Heliconia has made the hummingbird its prisoner.
为了确保授粉成功 艳红赫蕉把蜂鸟变成自己的囚犯
A plant's problems don't end once it's been pollinated.
但植物授粉之后 还得面对别的问题
Plants need to spread their seeds as far away as possible,
植物必须尽可能地 把种子散播到远方
otherwise the adults will be in direct competition with their offspring.
不然子代会变成亲代的竞争对手
Here in South Africa,
南非
one flower achieves this by performing a remarkable trick.
有一种花朵 以惊人的方式达到这种目的
The plant waits dormant underground for more than a year.
灯台花在地底蛰伏了一年多
The first heavy rains for many months
连月干旱后的第一场大雨
are the trigger the plant has been waiting for.
是它等待多时的契机
