Specificity and mutual dependency of the orchid-euglossine bee interaction

Seasonal and geographic relationships, and host pollinator specificities are examined for indications of interdependency in the orchid-euglossine bee interaction. The orchids are dependent on the bees for pollination, and their flowering seasonality corresponds well with peak activity of their pollinators. However, there is little evidence that the bees are dependent on these fragrance hosts. The orchids tap the majority of euglossine species and individuals for pollinator services during any given season, but most of those bee species that temporarily lack orchid fragrance hosts persist in the area, continually emerge from nests, and seek floral fragrance compounds. Pollinator specificity occurs in less than half of the orchids, and host specificity is rare. Geographic distributions of nearly all orchid-pollinator pairs are not mutually inclusive. Moreover, nearly a third of the local male euglossine bee species censused are not pollinators of any fragrance orchids in the area. Local alternative fragrance sources occur. The orchid-male euglossine bee interaction does not appear to represent a mutually obligatory relationship. The orchids may have exploited a preexisting behavioural phenomenon of the bees, and reciprocal evolutionary responses may not have occurred.     

云南西双版纳兰科十新种

1.豹斑石豆兰 新种 图1:5—6Bulbophyllum colomaculosum Tsi et S. C. Chen, sp. nov.Species nova B. obrieniano Rolfe proxima, a quo differt petalis margine dentatis.Herba epiphytica. pseudobulbi aggregati ovati, ca. 4 cm longi, medio 1.5—1.8 cm lati,     

Phalaenopsis bellina (Rchb.f.) Christenson,a segregate from P. violacea Witte (Orchidaceae: Aeridinae)

A reevaluation of floral and vegetative morphology together with data from analysis of floral fragrance and flavonoid co-pigment chemistry suggest that specific status is warranted for the two kinds ofPhalaenopsis violacea Witte known informally as the “Bornean type” and the “Malayan type.”Phalaenopsis violacea var.bellina Rchb.f. is elevated to specific rank, providing a name for the “Bornean type” plants.     

A new biologically active phenolic from Cattleya trianaei

A new phenolic, hydroxyeucomic acid, and dopamine were isolated from Cattleya trianaei and their biological activities examined.     

Composition of Orchid Scents Attracting Euglossine Bees

Fragrance composition of flowers from 101 plant species, especially orchids, were analyzed. Several compounds, including allo-aromadendrene, β-bourbonene, α-copaene, α-cubebene, 1,2-dimethoxybenzene, 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene, epoxygeranyl acetate, 7,11-epoxymegastigma-5(6)-en-9-one, two γ-lactones, germacradienol, germacrene D, humulene, methoxy-phenyl-ethyl acetate, myrcene epoxide, sabinene, styrene, and undecatriene were detected for the first time in orchids. Fragrance composition of flowers pollinated by male euglossine bee species (perfume flowers) of four plant families are compared and contrasted with those of orchid species with other pollination systems. Melittophilous, but highly specialized orchids, produce fragrances rich in different sesquiterpenes and other rare compounds. In the species that are exclusively pollinated by fragrance-collecting male euglossine bees, the fragrances are primary attractants that serve both as an attractant and as a reward. The unusually intensely smelling flowers mostly produce esters and monoterpenes. The fragrances of euglossophilous flowers of the three plant families investigated are composed of nearly the same sets of chemical compounds, suggesting convergent evolution. Typically, euglossophilous plant species produce large amounts of few fragrant substances while melittophilous species often produce rare compounds in small amounts.     

The diversity of stomatal development in Orchidaceae subfamily Orchidoideae

The development of leaf stomata in species of Orchidoideae sensu Garay is agenous or hemimesogenous with a single mesogene cell. Both kinds of development occur in all 26 species studied and are found in a characteristic proportion which may differ markedly even between related species.
Leaf and stem stomata develop similarly but surrounding cells may divide obliquely in the latter, so that perigene cells are formed. At maturity, mesogene and perigene cells resemble other epidermal cells, the stomata being anomocytic.
In monocotyledons, the hemimesogenous development of stomata is previously known only from five orchid genera of the neottioid tribe Cranichideae sensu Dressler. This kind of stomatal development in monocotyledons is documented by micrographs for the first time. Mesogene and perigene cells are recorded for the first time in the Orchidoideae. The diversity of types of stomatal development in this group is emphasized.     

中国兰科禾叶兰属一新记录种——扁茎禾叶兰

报道了中国兰科植物一新记录种,扁茎禾叶兰Agrostophyllum planicaule(Wall.ex Lindl.)Rchb.f..本种主要特点是茎扁平,柱头基部有2个牛角状突起,可与本属其他种明显区分开.     

江西三清山兰科植物区系分析

江西省三清山兰科植物资源丰富,约21属30种,占江西省兰科植物属种的56.76%、38.46%,占中国兰科植物属种的12.28%、2.41%。区内兰科植物生活型以地生兰为主;分布区式样以温带型为主;区系成分分散,缺乏本地特有成分。与各山地的相似性以及属种分布型比较显示,三清山与5山地在属级水平上相似性系数高,兰科植物区系联系比较紧密,从属分布区类型看,三清山、黄山、天目山和庐山以北温带分布为主,井冈山和武夷山以热带亚洲-热带大洋洲为主;在种级水平上相似性系数较低,种分布区类型均以东亚和中国特有分布为主。按生态型划分,地生兰为主,附生兰为辅,三清山和黄山只有两生态类型,武夷山、天目山、井冈山和庐山生态类型齐全。最后,依据"中国物种红色名录"对各山地珍稀濒危保护物种进行归纳统计。