Thursday 24 October 2013

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

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