Bee pollination in the shadows: The role of pseudopollen and agamospermy in the mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia elata
Kenji Suetsugu,
Takenori Yamamoto
Abstract:Societal Impact StatementThe family Orchidaceae is renowned for its reliance on specialized pollinators and mycorrhizal symbioses. This study examined how the nonphotosynthetic orchid Gastrodia elata thrives on the dim forest floor, focusing on its pollination biology, particularly the chemical properties of pseudopollen and reproductive assurance mechanisms. It was found that G. elata mainly relies on Lasioglossum bees, attracted by its starch‐rich pseudopollen. Additionally, G. elata in the studied populatio… Show more
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