Trap is not to trap insect. Trap is to direct the insect to a right position at right time so pollinia can be stuck to its back. Please remember that the plant is not looking for self pollination. Plant is actually expecting that the insect will carry away the pollinia and pollinate another flower. Most of these Bulbophyllums (not all) are self incompatible. Pankaj
On Fri, Apr 11, 2014 at 12:42 PM, Vijayasankar <[email protected]>wrote: > I understand it is a clever adaptation to ensure pollination and thus > seed-production to continue the legacy... But why trap? > > > Regards > > Vijayasankar > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > Vijayasankar Raman, Ph.D. > National Center for Natural Products Research > University of Mississippi > > > On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 11:35 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> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thursday, 10 April 2014 16:27:15 UTC+8, Dr Pankaj Kumar wrote: >>>> >>>> Dear all >>>> >>>> Please find some pics shwing pollinators on an Orchid called >>>> Bulbophyllum lasiochilum. I have shared few of these pics earlier too, but >>>> this time there are two extra images. >>>> >>>> It depicts how ferocious act of pollination can be. The pollinator got >>>> stuck between the column and labellum and died there itself. >>>> Hope you will find these interesting. >>>> Best regards >>>> Pankaj >>>> >>>> >>>> <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qhAfAnqwuTk/U0ZVd53Ff3I/AAAAAAAACBg/RVryqV0Fr5g/s1600/POLLINATOR+%282%29.jpg> >>>> >>>> >>>> <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FVfDQ-OC6eQ/U0ZVnOKL0lI/AAAAAAAACBo/IshjIsBeN0Y/s1600/POLLINATOR+%283%29.JPG> >>>> >>>> >>>> <https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_da3_oMOtYo/U0ZVxFuGeoI/AAAAAAAACBw/_yvgJEDpGwU/s1600/POLLINATOR+%284%29.JPG> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>> 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. >>> >> >> > -- *********************************************************** 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.
