Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids?

Rewardless kettle-trap flowers Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum were watched for pollinators during 73 and 101 man-hours, respectively, in north-west Yunnan at 3490-3590 m a.s.l. They differ from typical Cypripedium, such as C. calceolus, in having a broad infolded flap of the lip extending all...

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Main Authors: Banziger H., Sun H., Luo Y.-B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-38149072317&partnerID=40&md5=88131bb3c12e139ae357010fec45e85d
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/353
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spelling th-cmuir.6653943832-3532014-08-29T07:31:38Z Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids? Banziger H. Sun H. Luo Y.-B. Rewardless kettle-trap flowers Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum were watched for pollinators during 73 and 101 man-hours, respectively, in north-west Yunnan at 3490-3590 m a.s.l. They differ from typical Cypripedium, such as C. calceolus, in having a broad infolded flap of the lip extending all around the entrance of the pouch (instead of being restricted to the vicinity of the staminode) and in the flap not being slippery. Cypripedium yunnanense is pollinated by Lasioglossum zonulum euronotum (Halictidae), and C. flavum is pollinated by Andrena orchidea and Andrena sp. (Andrenidae, two of nine new hymenopterans discovered at the sites). The bees do not inadvertently fall into the trap by slipping (as often occurs in other slipper orchids), but enter it by crawling down the flap in full control of their movements. No natural hybrids between the two orchids are known, although they occur in close-by or mixed stands, are co-flowering and size compatible with regard to their pollinators, and produce fruits following manual cross-pollination in situ. Analyses of the (non-Cypripedium) pollen carried indicate that: (1) the two andrenids are probably oligolectic; (2) the andrenids and the halictid do not share the same flower species; and (3) the halictid is polylectic. Points (1) and (2) are probable reasons for the lack of hybrids. The other reason why Lasioglossum zonulum euronotum does not visit C. flavum despite being polylectic may be the flower's odour; cases of discrimination of closely related flowers by polylectic Lasioglossum have been reported elsewhere. Blow flies Calliphora vomitoria and Calliphora pattoni (Calliphoridae) also enter the orchids, some smearing themselves with pollen, yet they are not pollinators. They are too large to leave by the exit and die imprisoned. However, they may be accidental pollinators of the rather larger C. tibeticum present at the sites. Such accidental pollinators probably play an important role in the evolution of new pollination syndromes. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London. 2014-08-29T07:31:38Z 2014-08-29T07:31:38Z 2008 Article 00244074 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2007.00755.x BJLSA http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-38149072317&partnerID=40&md5=88131bb3c12e139ae357010fec45e85d http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/353 English
institution Chiang Mai University
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description Rewardless kettle-trap flowers Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum were watched for pollinators during 73 and 101 man-hours, respectively, in north-west Yunnan at 3490-3590 m a.s.l. They differ from typical Cypripedium, such as C. calceolus, in having a broad infolded flap of the lip extending all around the entrance of the pouch (instead of being restricted to the vicinity of the staminode) and in the flap not being slippery. Cypripedium yunnanense is pollinated by Lasioglossum zonulum euronotum (Halictidae), and C. flavum is pollinated by Andrena orchidea and Andrena sp. (Andrenidae, two of nine new hymenopterans discovered at the sites). The bees do not inadvertently fall into the trap by slipping (as often occurs in other slipper orchids), but enter it by crawling down the flap in full control of their movements. No natural hybrids between the two orchids are known, although they occur in close-by or mixed stands, are co-flowering and size compatible with regard to their pollinators, and produce fruits following manual cross-pollination in situ. Analyses of the (non-Cypripedium) pollen carried indicate that: (1) the two andrenids are probably oligolectic; (2) the andrenids and the halictid do not share the same flower species; and (3) the halictid is polylectic. Points (1) and (2) are probable reasons for the lack of hybrids. The other reason why Lasioglossum zonulum euronotum does not visit C. flavum despite being polylectic may be the flower's odour; cases of discrimination of closely related flowers by polylectic Lasioglossum have been reported elsewhere. Blow flies Calliphora vomitoria and Calliphora pattoni (Calliphoridae) also enter the orchids, some smearing themselves with pollen, yet they are not pollinators. They are too large to leave by the exit and die imprisoned. However, they may be accidental pollinators of the rather larger C. tibeticum present at the sites. Such accidental pollinators probably play an important role in the evolution of new pollination syndromes. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London.
format Article
author Banziger H.
Sun H.
Luo Y.-B.
spellingShingle Banziger H.
Sun H.
Luo Y.-B.
Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids?
author_facet Banziger H.
Sun H.
Luo Y.-B.
author_sort Banziger H.
title Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids?
title_short Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids?
title_full Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids?
title_fullStr Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids?
title_full_unstemmed Pollination of wild lady slipper orchids Cypripedium yunnanense and C. flavum (Orchidaceae) in south-west China: Why are there no hybrids?
title_sort pollination of wild lady slipper orchids cypripedium yunnanense and c. flavum (orchidaceae) in south-west china: why are there no hybrids?
publishDate 2014
url http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-38149072317&partnerID=40&md5=88131bb3c12e139ae357010fec45e85d
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/353
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