2022 | 2020 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

Questions and Answers: 2014

Question: I have seen two different ideas about Calopogon tuberosus pollination. One is when the labellum folds with a bee, the …

• Question

  I have seen two different ideas about Calopogon tuberosus pollination. One is when the labellum folds with a bee, the plants is pollinated be the bee wiggling free. The other says that the pollen is deposited on the bee's back, then it flies to the next flower and repeats the process. Then the pollen from the first flowers is transferred to the new one. Which is correct or is it both?

  Answer

  Dear juice152, this account comes from the Flora of North America treatment of Calopogon: Calopogon appears to exhibit deceit pollination (L. van der Pijl and C. H. Dodson 1966; L. B. Thien and B. G. Marcks 1972; D. H. Firmage and F. R. Cole 1988; J. T. Boland and P. J. Scott 1991). This occurs when pollinating bees land on the lip and try to gather pollen off the large hair-like protuberances that resemble anthers. The weight of the pollinator causes the lip to fall, dropping the pollinator backwards onto the column; pollinia adhere to the back of the bee and subsequently are carried to another flower. Soft pollinia in Calopogon had been noted to be an evolutionary reversal to facilitate pollination by hairy bees (W. P. Stoutamire 1971). Let me know if I can help further.