An Enthusiasm for Orchids: Sex and Deception in Plant Evolution, Volume 10The male thynnine wasp's extreme sexual enthusiasm is crucial to reproduction of hammer orchids in the wild. Hammer orchids have co-evolved to produce odors identical to those manufactured by female thynnine wasps. The male wasp's superb sensitivity to the scent of his female mate is the basis for the hammer orchid's deceit--in effect, orchids exploit the male insect's highly adaptive sense of smell for their own propagation. While pollinating orchids is a waste of time, and thus a maladaptive activity for a wasp, his mistake comes about because he must react quickly whenever he senses a possible mate nearby. Alcock suggests that, "for insects, he who hesitates is lost, although perhaps it would be better to say that he who hesitates often loses a chance to pass on his genes." This book abounds with clever explanations for how these exceptionally complex flowers came to be shaped as they are. The reader can explore many aspects of orchid biology and history ranging from how some species avoid inbreeding, to the origins of orchids from an ancestor that belonged to the asparagus family. Examining each component of an orchid's flower, Alcock explains how the various parts work together to produce the plant's minute offspring. Each element of an orchid, as quirky as it may seem, is biologically significant, bearing the imprint of natural selection. Readers can share in the delight that Darwin and all other orchid enthusiasts have felt in making sense of even the smallest of details of these most wonderful plants. |
Contents
4 | 70 |
Orchids Species and Names | 152 |
Orchids Biodiversity and Hotspots | 197 |
Copyright | |
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adaptationist adaptive ancestor Andrew Brown attract Australian orchids bees biologists biology botanical botanists Caladenia Caladenia graniticola Caleana Caleana major calli cells Chiloglottis color column complex Darwin dragon orchids elbow orchid eucalypts evolution evolutionary evolved example female decoy field guide floral flowering plants flying duck orchid fungus genes genetic genus Gould greenhood growing habitat Hopper and Brown hotspots human insect labellum land leaf leaves lip petal living things look male wasps mammals mate molecular native orchids natural selection nectar occur odors orchid flower orchid species Orchidaceae pakicetids Paracaleana Park Perth petals and sepals pheromone photograph plant behavior plant species pollinator pollinia populations proboscis produce Proteaceae reproductive rock scent seeds sepals sexually deceptive shrubs similar soil southwestern Australia specimen spider orchid stalk Stirling Range sun orchid sundews tion track trait trap Venus flytrap warty hammer orchid wasp Western Australia