In OGD V9 #264, Viateur provide a clipping on the work of Anne Gaskett, a PhD student from Macquarie University in Sydney.
It contained the following line, which has been repeated so often it is in danger of becoming something of a classic: "... one insect pollinates one species of orchid." Anne Gaskett should do her homework properly. Published work on S.E.Asian tropical orchids has well and truly debunked this statement. The evidence is that several insect species (even different species from different genera) have the ability to pollinate one particular orchid species. Also, it has been known since Ridley's time that one particular insect species (Carpenter Bee) has the ability to cause pollination of a range of orchids, both species and hybrids. Spread the word. Let's bury this particular myth. Peter O'Byrne _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
