Abstract
The shining appearance of the flowers of <i>Oncidium cheirophorum</i> and <i>Ornithocephalus kruegeri</i> results from the presence of lipids on the flower surface. The lipids are produced by elaiophores - secretory structures situated symmetrically at the base of the labellum or upon the callus. In <i>O. cheirophorum</i>, the elaiophores are epithelial type. They consist of one layer of cuboidal secretory cells and subsecretory parenchyma. The thick cuticle covering the outer, tangential wall of epithelial cells becomes distended and wrinkled as secreted oil accumulates beneath its surface. Oil secretion begins at the bud stage and lasts till the end of anthesis, that is 22 days, on average. Pollination does not influence oil production. In <i>O. kruegeri</i>, trichomatous elaiophores are situated on the central part of the callus. Unicellular trichomes project from the epidermis cells. Their outer walls are covered by a thin cuticle. In the dense cytoplasm of the trichomes, small plastids with few starch grains occur, whereas subsecretory parenchyma cells contain amyloplasts with large starch grains and raphides. The oil is already produced at the bud stage, about one week before flower opening, and lasts till the end of anthesis.
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