Abstract
The pollination ecology of Cypripedium henryi Rolfe, a slipper orchid endemic to west China, was investigated, and its floral shape, size, colour, and scent were analysed. Examination of the breeding system suggests that the flowers are self-compatible, but need pollen vectors for successful reproduction. The flower is rewardless; over 15 insects belonging to Araneida, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera were recorded as flower visitors, but most only alighted or rested on the flower. In the total 32 h of observations over 2 years, female Lasioglossum bees were found to be the most frequent visitors and the only pollinators. They showed a high visitation frequency and, surprisingly, re-visited the same flowers frequently. Cypripedium henryi probably attracts pollinators visiting the flowers through general food deception (odour components, colour, false nectar guides), as well as special structures (slippery labellum, slippery staminode). Although three Lasioglossum species visited the flowers, only L. sauterum Fan et Ebmer was found with pollen. Lasioglossum flavohirtum Ebmer was large and climbed out from the entrance. Morphologically, L. sichuanense Fan et Ebmer could be considered as a potential pollinator, but the collected specimens were found to have no pollen of C. henryi on their bodies. It was speculated that the particular floral scent of C. henryi discouraged the entrance of L. sichuanense bees. Lasioglossum sauterum was matched morphologically to the flower, but not all of the visitations resulted in effective pollinations, as some flowers of C. henryi were frequently re-visited and the pollen mass had been taken away by bees on previous visitations.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Cypripedium henryi flowers are self-compatible but require pollen vectors for reproduction.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi Rolfe
Cypripedium henryie0 - Outcome
- self-compatible, but need pollen vectors for successful reproductione1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The pollination ecology of Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“the flowers are self-compatible, but need pollen vectors for successful reproduction”
Claim · model-written summary
The orchid flower offers no reward, and most of more than 15 visitor insects only alighted or rested.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Outcome
- rewardlesse1
- Value
- over 15 insectse1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The pollination ecology of Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“The flower is rewardless; over 15 insects belonging to Araneida, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera were recorded as flower visitors, but most only alighted or rested on the flower.”
Claim · model-written summary
Female Lasioglossum bees were the most frequent visitors and only pollinators during 32 hours over two years.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Interactor
- Lasioglossum beese1pollinator
- Outcome
- most frequent visitors and the only pollinatorse1
- Qualifier
- 32 h of observations over 2 yearse1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The pollination ecology of Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“In the total 32 h of observations over 2 years, female Lasioglossum bees were found to be the most frequent visitors and the only pollinators.”
Claim · model-written summary
Female Lasioglossum bees revisited the same orchid flowers frequently.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Interactor
- Lasioglossum beese2pollinator
- Outcome
- re-visited the same flowers frequentlye1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The pollination ecology of Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“They showed a high visitation frequency and, surprisingly, re-visited the same flowers frequently.”
e2“female Lasioglossum bees”
Claim · model-written summary
Only L. sauterum among three visiting Lasioglossum species carried pollen.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Interactor
- L. sauterum Fan et EbmerLasioglossum sauterume1pollinator
- Outcome
- found with pollene1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The pollination ecology of Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“Although three Lasioglossum species visited the flowers, only L. sauterum Fan et Ebmer was found with pollen.”
Claim · model-written summary
L. flavohirtum was too large and climbed out through the flower entrance.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Interactor
- Lasioglossum flavohirtum EbmerLasioglossum flavohirtume1pollinator
- Outcome
- climbed out from the entrancee1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The pollination ecology of Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“Lasioglossum flavohirtum Ebmer was large and climbed out from the entrance.”
Claim · model-written summary
L. sichuanense appeared morphologically capable of pollination, but collected bees carried no C. henryi pollen.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Interactor
- L. sichuanense Fan et EbmerLasioglossum sichuanensee1pollinator
- Outcome
- no pollen of C. henryi on their bodiese1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“L. sichuanense Fan et Ebmer could be considered as a potential pollinator, but the collected specimens were found to have no pollen of C. henryi on their bodies.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors speculate that the orchid’s scent discourages L. sichuanense from entering.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Interactor
- L. sichuanense beesLasioglossum sichuanensee1pollinator
- Outcome
- discouraged the entrance of L. sichuanense beese1
- Qualifier
- particular floral scent of C. henryie1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“the particular floral scent of C. henryi discouraged the entrance of L. sichuanense bees”
Claim · model-written summary
L. sauterum fits the flower morphologically, but some repeat visits do not pollinate after pollen removal.
- Taxon
- Cypripedium henryi RolfeCypripedium henryie0
- Interactor
- Lasioglossum sauterumLasioglossum sauterume1pollinator
- Outcome
- not all of the visitations resulted in effective pollinationse1
- Qualifier
- pollen mass had been taken away by bees on previous visitationse1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cypripedium henryi Rolfe”
e1“Lasioglossum sauterum was matched morphologically to the flower, but not all of the visitations resulted in effective pollinations, as some flowers of C. henryi were frequently re-visited and the pollen mass had been taken away by bees on previous visitations.”