Abstract
Fluorescence microscopy is used to compare frequencies of pollen tube penetration in in situ populations of Cypripedium bardolphianum W.W. Smith et Farrer, Cypripedium flavum W.W. Smith, Cypripedium montanum Dougl. ex Lindl., Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury var. pubescens (Wildenow) O.W. Knight, Cypripedium reginae Walter, and Cypripedium tibeticum Schltr. The average natural (insect‐mediated) pollination rates measured over five seasons are wide ranging among the six species (0.08–0.74). However, the pollination rate of hand‐manipulated populations (self and/or cross) is significantly greater than the rate of insect‐mediated pollinations in all species studied. A few pollen tubes in both self‐ and cross‐pollinations display aberrant growth in the styles and/or ovaries, but their numbers are too small to suggest evidence of self‐incompatibility. Pollen tubes germinate and grow up to the bases of styles within 48 h in C. bardolphianum, C. flavum, and C. tibeticum. Pollen tubes remain at the bases of the ...
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