From Wikipedia
"In
the case of Angraecum sesquipedale, a species from Madagascar, on
observing the 30cm spur in the lip, Charles Darwin theorised that,
since the nectar was at the bottom of the spur, a pollinator must exist
with a tongue at least that long. Otherwise the orchid could never be
pollinated. At the time, he was not believed. However, long after
Darwin's death, the predicted pollinator was discovered, a hawk moth
now named Xanthopan morganii praedicta (praedicta meaning predicted).
It had an appropriately long proboscis. The specific name
'sesquipedale' means 'one foot and a half', referring to the length of
the spur. This is a perfect example of mutual dependence of an orchid
and a specific pollinator".
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| CAIOS member Angraecum sesquipedale from the 2006 show exhibit |
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| Vanilla planifolia-The plant that produces the vanilla bean! |
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| From the Tayama Greenhouse Website
Did you know...
- Orchids are one of the largest groups of flowering plants, consisting of some 25,000 to 30,000 species.
- Orchids are found in nearly every climatic condition except deserts.
- The name "orchid" comes from the Greek root orkhis, meaning "testicle."
- John Lindley is considered the father of orchid cultivation.
- In their natural environment, each orchid species is dependent upon a specific type of insect to carry out its pollination.
- There are
two principal types of orchids: terrestrials, which feature extensive
below-ground root systems, and epiphytes, characterized by their aerial
or exposed root structure.
- Before
their true nature was understood, epiphytic orchids were thought of as
parasitic plants impossible to grow under controlled conditions.
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