Odor‐guided bee pollinators of two endangered winter/early spring blooming orchids, Cymbidium kanran and Cymbidium goeringii , in Japan

2010/08/30 by Kaoru Tsuji, KAORU TSUJI, MAKOTO KATO +1
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Plant Parasitism and Resistance #Plant Reproductive Biology #Plant and animal studies

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1442-1984.2010.00294.x

openalex publication_date 2010/08/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Abstract We detected the pollinators of two endangered orchid species, Cymbidium kanran and Cymbidium goeringii , in their natural habitats. Cymbidium kanran blooms in early winter and the fragrant nectarless flowers were exclusively visited and pollinated by workers of the Japanese honeybee ( Apis cerana japonica ). The pollination system seems deceptive and contrasts with the honeybee drone pollination system observed in Cymbidium floribundum . Cymbidium goeringii blooms in early spring, and the faintly fragrant, nectarless flowers were visited and pollinated by males of Anthophora plumipes villosula , suggesting that the labellar papillae of the orchid flowers may be a reward for the bees.

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