Researchers have discovered that plants compete for the best position to be pollinated.

A study published in The American Naturalist reveals that plants are not merely passive participants in pollination but they actively engage in what could be described as 'pollen wars,' striving to secure the most advantageous position on pollinators for their pollen.

Scientists from South Africa and Brazil uncovered this competitive behavior within the plant kingdom.

The study focuses on Hypenea macrantha, a vibrant red flower native to Brazil. It employs a catapult-like mechanism to launch its pollen.

Slow-motion footage captured during the experiment shows the flower effectively using this explosive mechanism to dislodge rival pollen from a hummingbird's bill, replacing it with its own.

Professor Bruce Anderson from Stellenbosch University, a lead researcher on the study, said: 'This isn't just about where the pollen lands; it's about clearing a space for dominance.

'The force from the ballistic pollen grains dislodges other pollen, giving the plant a competitive edge in reproduction.'

This phenomenon, termed 'explosive pollen placement,' has now been empirically demonstrated to enhance a plant's reproductive success by physically removing competitors' pollen. The use of quantum dot-labeled pollen allowed researchers to count and confirm the displacement of rival pollen grains.

Professor Vinicius Brito from the Federal University of Uberlandia added: 'We initially thought these explosive mechanisms were merely for dispersal or to encourage pollinators to visit new plants.

'However, our findings suggest a more aggressive strategy where plants are actively clearing rivals' pollen to ensure their own genetic material dominates.'

This discovery parallels sperm competition observed in animals, where males remove or displace competitors' sperm. In plants, however, this competition occurs indirectly through pollinators.