Got it, thanks. I wonder what reward Bulbophyllums have to offer to their pollinators. Are they looking for any specific type of pollinators, like wasps (?) in this case here, what about honey bees? I wish I studied pollination biology....
Regards Vijayasankar ------------------------------------------------------------------- Vijayasankar Raman, Ph.D. National Center for Natural Products Research University of Mississippi On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 11:49 PM, Pankaj Kumar <[email protected]>wrote: > 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.
