How does orchid’s anthecology affect the development of anther structure and the evolution of its function in attracting insects?
Plant pollinators - why might androceum structure of orchids be correlated with odorefic function d'anther cap?
1- By the aromatic trichoms or stomates ?
2 - by nectar of spur ?
3 - other ?
How does the development of the anther structure affect the evolution of orchids ?
- in 5 subfamily & 30000 species
Many, if not most orchid species are deceivers. Their flowers attract the pollinator, though has no reward for the visitor. The ecology of a deceiver flower plant means: (1) Its flowers mast be very attractive. (2) They can attract only specific pollinators, usually one species only. (3) Their attractive properties should be specific and adapted to their specific pollinator. (4) Usually their populations can't be big and dense. (5) They should be adapted to a low visitation chance. Their flowers may not be visited, or may be visited only once.
Therefore, a specific effective attractive property (like pheromone odor), and a specific flower structure, both perfectly adapted to the specific pollinator, are a mast adaptation. Compacting the pollen grains in a pollinia, which is carried safely and specifically on the pollinator body, is an adaptation to the ecology of one visit per flower, where the next proper visitation may be delayed. A very high number of ovules per flower is adapted to the pollinia method, and to the low pollination rate. The long range wind seed dispersal is an adaptation to the small and sparse populations.
Another blooming property of the orchids: Since their flowers have low chance for visitation, the blooming period of each flower is long, 7 days, and up to two weeks.
Bulbophyllum (apparently the largest orchid genus consisting of ca. 2,000 species) flowers of most species produce fetid or unpleasant odour to attract and deceive carion, flesh and signal flies without providing any reward. However, flowers of many daciniphilous Bulbophllym species produce spicy or pleasant odours that attract exclusively several fruit fly species to perform pollination. The floral attractants also act as floral rewards to the fruit flies. For some details of the true mutualistic interactions between daciniphilous Bulbophyllym and male fruit flies, please visit either a) pollinator - Wikipedia or b) Semiochemical - Wikipedia to view "synomone".
Should you be interested to read more related to Bulbophyllum pollination especially by fruit fly males, please check with research gate.
Thank for all interesting remarks,
but it is not about "the development of anther structure"
or "the evolution of its function in attracting insects"
Best regard
Dear Marpha,
have you looked for something like this study?
https://peerj.com/articles/4383.pdf
Cheers
Bastian
Dear Keng Hong Tan,
Yes, some of Bulbophyllum flowers produce unpleasant odour this species have not the olfactives stomates on the anther cap.
Other group Bulbophyllym species (not color on red) produce spicy or pleasant odours, this species have the stomates on the lip !!!
So, the gens with 40 sections is not homogenous.
Best regards, MTT
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