Phalaenopsis pulcherrima explained

Phalaenopsis pulcherrima is a species of orchid found from Hainan Island to western Malesia.

Ecology

Pollination

Pollination through bees, specifically Amegilla nigritar, Amegilla zonata, and Nomia punctulata has been reported.^{[1] [2]} This species employs a deceptive pollination strategy. The orchid does not provide rewards to pollinators. It benefits from blooming in the same period as rewarding species. Amegilla is the most important pollinator, but other diurnal insects, such as four species of bees, two species of butterflies, one species of moth and two other unidentified insects, have also been observed to interact with the flowers.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Pramanik, D., Dorst, N., Meesters, N. et al. Evolution and development of three highly specialized floral structures of bee-pollinated Phalaenopsis species. EvoDevo 11, 16 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13227-020-00160-z
2. Hu, X., Lan, S., Song, X., Yang, F., Zhang, Z., Peng, D., & Ren, M. (2021). "Genetic divergence between two sympatric ecotypes of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima on Hainan island." Diversity, 13(9), 446.
3. Jin, Xiao-Hua & Li, De-Zhu & Ren, Zong-Xin & Xiang, Xiao-Guo. (2012). A generalized deceptive pollination system of Doritis pulcherrima (Aeridinae: Orchidaceae) with non-reconfigured pollinaria. BMC plant biology. 12. 67. 10.1186/1471-2229-12-67.