Dear Vijay Being insectivorous would technically mean that the plant somehow evolved to produce enzymes like or similar to chitinase that can dissolve outer layer of insects. This is not the case here, The main aim is forced pollination and not killing. If the insects are trapped then its a matter of chance. Best regards Pankaj
On Fri, Apr 11, 2014 at 12:35 PM, Vijayasankar <[email protected]>wrote: > Thanks Pankaj for the nice illustrations and explanation. Very > interesting! > The 'trapping mechanism' sounds like a carefully selected adaptive feature > by some of this most-advanced group of plants. > It also makes me to think that they probably in the process of turning > into insectivorous (?), may be in few to several thousand years. > And, they already have achieved a part of that feature (insect trapping > mechanism). > Its hard to imagine, but who knows?! > > > Regards > > Vijayasankar > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > Vijayasankar Raman, Ph.D. > National Center for Natural Products Research > University of Mississippi > > > On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 8:24 PM, Dr Pankaj Kumar > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Yes this is accidental and caused because the insect was not able to >> release the anther cap and somehow went inside without doing it. >> Bulbophyllum has a very peculiar trapping mechanism for pollinators. They >> have motile labellum and two fang like structures on the column. As the >> insect moves from the tip of labellum towards inside due to shift in weight >> the labellum turns upwards and the two fangs clutches the back of insect to >> hold it. At this point due to movement anther cap is supposed to fall off >> releasing the pollinia on the back of insect. Once the cap and anther is >> released, there is enough gap for the insect to come out after minor >> struggle. >> I tried to make some bad sketch sitting on office table to depict this >> process. Hope it would be understandable. >> Fangs are actually stelidia and the length and structure plats important >> role in identification of species and it also plays important role in >> deciding which insect can actually be a pollinator. >> Best regards >> Pankaj >> >> <https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DqRWU_LSgdg/U0dEUIvNk3I/AAAAAAAACCI/JxsfKPrU4Io/s1600/Bulbophyllum+pollination.jpg> >> >> >> >> -- *********************************************************** Pankaj Kumar, Ph.D. IUCN-SSC Orchid Specialist Group Asia Office: Conservation Officer Orchid Conservation Section Flora Conservation Department Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) Corporation Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. Residence: 151, 1st Floor, Tai Om Tsuen Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. email: [email protected]; [email protected] Phone: +852 2483 7128 (office - 8:30am to 5:00pm); +852 9436 6251 (mobile). Fax: +852 2483 7194 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
