Fertilisation of Orchids
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Fertilisation of Orchids is a book by English naturalist Charles Darwin published on 15 May 1862 under the full explanatory title On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are F
The title page of the 1877 edition of Fertilisation of Orchids
Musk orchids (Herminium monorchis) in grassland
The bee orchid does not have nectar, but its labellum, imitating a female bee, attracts male bees. Darwin found that in northern Europe, it is mostly self-fertilising.
Head of a moth with its proboscis laden with seven pairs of pollinia from Orchis pyramidalis
Pollination of orchids
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The pollination of orchids represents a complex aspect of the biology of this plant family, characterized by intricate flower structures and diverse ecological interactions with pollinator. Notably, t
The shapes, colors and fragrances of orchids are the result of their coevolution with pollinators. Pictured is a flower Coryanthes leucocorys, species that has evolved one of the most fascinating mechanisms of attracting pollinators by means of a liquid-filled pouch.
Pollinia of an orchid of the genus Phalaenopsis in lateral view
Pollinium of Phalaenopsis
Cattleya labiata flower, a plant native to Brazil