The orchid genus bulbophyllum and how they are pollinated

The orchid genus bulbophyllum is know as the smelly orchids because of the fowl smell they give off to attract their pollinators which are mainly Flies. These orchids take attracting their pollinators to the next level with having additional attractions to mimic maggots and pieces of flesh in the wind. 

Some have decorations at the tips of their petals and lips which sway in the wind mimicking movement in a wound by the maggots and therefore attracts more flies to lay their eggs on the lip and floral parts of the orchids. The pivoting lip isn't just 'for show' it has a purpose. Its purpose is when a fly is sitting on the orchids lip the wind will make the lip sway and therefore the fly touches the anther cap and the pollen is attached to the flies body for it to fly away and be fooled by the next Bulbophyllum and therefore pollination will occur.
Bulbophyllums range in size and smell, from the miniature Bulbophyllum macphersonii  to the larger Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis  with pseudobulbs the size of tennisballs, which also has an extremely potent smell.

Bulbophyllum macphersonii

Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis

How orchids first started from thousands of dust-like seeds

In nature orchids and other flowering plants alike are pollinated by birds, insects, air, water and many other ways. The main pollinators of orchids in nature are insects. They  become attracted to their flowers by smells, colours and resemblance. Orchids have dust-like seeds which disperse in the air when the seed capsule finally ripens and splits. These seeds which are dispersed into the air have to find a viable spot to start germination and to spend decades of their lives growing. The spot has to be plentiful in a fungus called mycorrhizal fungus. This fungus supplies the orchid seeds with small amounts of sugar to start germination and normally will remain on the orchids roots until it dies. The tiny seeds need a combination of moisture, humidity, sugar and warmth.



Orchids like bulbophyllum beccarii are pollinated by fly's which are attracted to their foul smell of rotting meat. People have described it as one thousand elephants rotting in the sun and filled with maggots. One of my next blogs are going to focus on the species bulbophyllum and how they are pollinated.