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POLLINATION BIOLOGY OF PLATANTHERA STRICTA (ORCHIDACEAE) IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, WASHINGTON
Author(s) -
Patt Joseph M.,
Merchant Mark W.,
Williams ew R. E.,
Meeuse Bastiaan J. D.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1989.tb15093.x
Subject(s) - biology , pollinator , pollination , raceme , orchidaceae , botany , inflorescence , pollen , lepidoptera genitalia , nectar
Platanthera striata Lindley is entomophilous and can produce seed via facultative self‐pollination and intraracemic and interracemic pollination. Capsule production is pollinator‐limited and seed set may be pollen‐limited. In experimental plants capsules produced via self‐ and intraracemic pollination contained fewer seeds with normally developed embryos than did capsules produced via interracemic pollination. The inflorescence of Platanthera stricta is fragrant and is attractive to a wide array of anthophilous insects. It is pollinated by a diverse assemblage of short‐tongued insects. The primary pollinators are Eustroma fasciata B. and McD. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Bombus flavifrons Cresson and B. melanopygus Nylander (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an undescribed species of Greya (Lepidoptera: Prodixidae), and several species of Empis, Rhamphomyia , and Anthepiscopus longipalpis Melander (Diptera: Empididae). Small amounts of glucose are present on the raceme. The extrafloral glucose may retain small pollinators on the inflorescence until they locate the floral spur aperture.