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How does the palate of a common snapdragon flower affect its corolla throat?
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Lamiales
The lilac-pink flowers of the water mint attract butterflies and beetles.
In the common snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), the palate is a pronounced upward bulge located in the central portion of the lower lip of the flower's corolla. This structure functions to close the corolla throat, effectively restricting access to the flower's interior and excluding most insects. Only strong bees, which are the plant's primary pollinators, are capable of forcing the palate open to enter the flower.12