Yes, that's really a long flower pistil. Our Lady stands high above the male stamens carrying pollen to be distributed to other flowers by Day-lily's pollinators.
Why that distance? It is thought that this structuring decreases the chance of self-pollination. Insects are less likely to brush off on the sticky pistil head Flower's own pollen, and the wind carrying any pollen likely blows sideways not upward.
Self-pollination can be useful, but - as in human sexuality - it may also cause mutations and it reduces diversity.
PS Flickr's mapping function drives me furious. It often doesn't work right. 'Amsterdam' has today become 'A mysterious place with no name'. Help...! Crazy, no?!
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