Adaptations of orchids (Orchidaceae Juss.) for pollination

• Main Authors: T.M. Cherevchenko, L.I. Buyun, L.А. Kovalska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: NAS of Ukraine, M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden 2010-03-01
• Series: Інтродукція Рослин
• Online Access: http://www.plantintroduction.org/index.php/pi/article/view/599

The paper provides of overview of recent publications devoted to different pollination syndromes. The representatives of Orchidaceae family have an extraordinary specialised pollination syndromes – the most orchids are pollinated by only one specialised pollinator. That specialization maximizes the efficiency of pollination, but in such case orchid reproduction in the wild is strongly limited by pollinators availability. The floral traits of entomophilous (mellittophilous, myiophilous, cantharophilous, sphyngophilous/ psychophilous) as well as ornithophilous orchid species are highlighted. The data available on pollination strategies of orchids (floral traits, availability/absence of reward, pollinators behaviour patterns, reproductive success) are of a great importance for elaboration of effective propagation methods, particularly, for viable seed obtai ning.