Abstract
Despite increased focus on elucidating the various reproductive strategies employed by orchids, we still have only a rather limited understanding of deceptive pollination systems that are not bee- or wasp-mediated. In Europe, the orchidNeotinea ustulatahas been known to consist of two phenologically divergent varieties, neither of which provide rewards to its pollinators. However, detailed studies of their reproductive biology have been lacking. Our study aimed to characterize and understand the floral traits (i.e., morphology, color, and scent chemistry) and reproductive biology ofN. ustulata. We found that the two varieties differ in all their floral traits; furthermore, whileNeotinea ustulatavar.ustulataappears to be pollinated by both bees (e.g.,Anthophora,Bombus) and flies (e.g.,Dilophus, Tachina), var.aestivalisis pollinated almost entirely by flies (i.e.,Nowickia, Tachina). Tachinids were also found to be much more effective than bees in removing pollinaria, and we show experimentally that they use the characteristic dark inflorescence top as a cue for approaching inflorescences. Our results thus suggest that while bothN. ustulatavarieties rely on tachinids for pollination, they differ in their degree of specialization. Further studies are, however, needed to fully understand the reproductive strategy ofN. ustulatavarieties.
Highlights
The orchid family is one of the largest plant families in the world, accounting for around 28,000 described species (Willis, 2017; Fay, 2018)
Conspicuous visual displays coupled with reduced floral scent emission and the attraction of male and female pollinators are traditionally considered an indication of food-deceptive pollination (Galizia et al, 2004; Jersáková et al, 2012, 2016; Johnson and Schiestl, 2016)
Morphology The flowers of N. ustulata var. ustulata are larger in all measured traits in comparison to var. aestivalis (Table 1)
Summary
The orchid family is one of the largest plant families in the world, accounting for around 28,000 described species (Willis, 2017; Fay, 2018). For many deceptive orchids the investigation of the floral traits employed can provide an accurate estimate of their pollination strategy; some orchid species may have complex strategies that are much more difficult to categorize (e.g., Vogel, 1972; Bino et al, 1982; Vöth, 1989; Valterová et al, 2007; Scopece et al, 2009). This seems to be the case for the European orchid species, Neotinea ustulata (L.) R.
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