Modern Australian
Men's Weekly

.

Warty hammer orchids are sexual deceivers

  • Written by Ryan Phillips, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Environment & Evolution, La Trobe University

Orchids are famed for their beautiful and alluring flowers – and the great lengths to which people will go to experience them in the wild. Among Australian orchids, evocative names such as The Butterfly Orchid, The Queen of Sheeba, and Cleopatra’s Needles conjure up images of rare and beautiful flowers.

Yet there is a rich diversity of our orchids. Some are diminutive, warty, and unpleasant-smelling, bearing little resemblance to a typical flower.

Read more: 'The worst kind of pain you can imagine' – what it's like to be stung by a stinging tree

While many orchid enthusiasts have a soft spot for these quirky members of the Australian flora, what has brought them international recognition is their flair for using some of the most bizarre reproductive strategies on Earth.

Warty hammer orchids are sexual deceivers The Conversation/Ryan Phillips/Suzi Bond., CC BY Sexual mimicry From the very beginnings of pollination research in Australia there were signs that something unusual was going on in the Australian orchid flora. In the 1920s Edith Coleman from Victoria made the sensational discovery that the Australian tongue and bonnet orchids (Cryptostylis) were pollinated by males of a particular species of ichneumonid wasp attempting to mate with the flower. But this was just the beginning. Warty hammer orchids are sexual deceivers The King-in-his-carriage, Drakaea glyptodon, is the most common species of hammer orchid. Here the flower is pictured next to the female of its pollinating thynnine wasp, Zaspilothynnus trilobatus. Rod Peakall, Author provided We now know that while the insect species involved may vary, many of our orchid species use this strategy. Australia is the world centre for sexual deception in plants. Perhaps the most sophisticated flower of all sexually deceptive plants is seen in the hammer orchids, a diminutive genus that only grows in southwestern Australia. Their solitary stem reaches a height of around 40cm, and each stem produces a single flower no more than 4cm in length. Even among sexually deceptive orchids, hammer orchids stand out from the crowd. They have a single heart-shaped leaf that sits flush with the soil surface, and grow in areas of dry inhospitable sand – an unusual choice for an orchid. Warty hammer orchids are sexual deceivers The thynnine wasp Zaspilothynnus nigripes is a sexually deceived. pollinator of the Warty hammer orchid. Here they are pictured in copula, with the flightless female having been carried to a food source by the male. Keith Smith, Author provided And then there is the flower. Not only does the lip of the flower more closely resemble an insect than a petal, but it is hinged partway along. All of which starts to makes sense once you see the pollinators in action. Like many other Australian sexually deceptive orchids, they are pollinated by thynnine wasps – a unique group in which the male picks up the flightless female and they mate in flight. In the case of hammer orchids, the male grasps the insect-like lip and attempts to fly off with “her”. The combination of his momentum and the hinge mechanism swings him upside down and onto the orchid’s reproductive structures. It’s not me, it’s you (you’re a flower) So, how do you trick a wasp? Accurate visual mimicry of the female insect does not appear to be essential, as there are some sexually deceptive orchids that are brightly coloured like a regular flower. Instead, the key ingredient for attracting pollinators to the flower is mimicking the sex pheromone of the female insect. And boy, is this pheromone potent. Indeed, one of the strangest fieldwork experiences I’ve had was wasps flying through my open car window while stopped at traffic lights, irresistibly drawn to make love to the hammer orchids sitting on the passenger seat! Warty hammer orchids are sexual deceivers Pollination of the Warty hammer orchid by a male of the thynnine wasp Zaspilothynnus nigripes. Suzi Bond, Author provided While determining the chemicals responsible for attraction of sexually deceived pollinators is a laborious process, we now know that multiple classes of chemicals are involved, several of which were new to science or had no previously known function in plants. What’s more, we are still discovering new and unexpected cases of sexual deception in orchids that don’t conform to the insect-like appearance of many sexually deceptive orchids. A classic example is the case of the Warty hammer orchid and the Kings spider orchid – these two species have totally different-looking flowers, yet both are pollinated by the same wasp species through sexual deception. While the ability to attract sexually excited males without closely resembling a female insect may partly explain the evolution of sexual deception, it does not explain the benefit of evolving this strategy in the first place. A leading hypothesis for the evolution of sexual deception is that mate-seeking males be more efficient at finding orchid flowers than food-foraging pollinators – but this remains a work in progress. Warty hammer orchids are sexual deceivers The life cycle of the Warty hammer orchid and its pollinator species, highlighting the complex ecological requirements needed to support a population of. the orchid. Martin Thompson, Author provided From a conservation point of view, pollination by sexual deception has some interesting challenges. Female animals produce sex pheromones that only attract males of their own species. This means an orchid that mimics a sex pheromone typically relies on a single pollinator species. As such, conservation of any given orchid species requires the presence of a viable population of a particular pollinator. Further, an interesting quirk of these sexually deceptive systems is the potential for cryptic forms of the orchid: where populations of orchids that appear identical to human observers actually attract different pollinator species through shifts in pheromone chemistry. Indeed, of the ten known species of hammer orchid, three contain cryptic forms. Read more: Australia’s unusual species Not only does this create a major challenge for managing rare species, it raises the possibility that – should these forms prove to be separate species – the true diversity of sexually deceptive orchids could be greatly underestimated. Warty hammer orchids are sexual deceivers Sign up to Beating Around the Bush, a series that profiles native plants: part gardening column, part dispatches from country, entirely Australian.

Authors: Ryan Phillips, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Environment & Evolution, La Trobe University

Read more http://theconversation.com/warty-hammer-orchids-are-sexual-deceivers-107805

Top Qualities of a Trusted Local Aircon Installer

Choosing the right air conditioning installer can make a big difference to your comfort, safety, and long-term energy costs. A properly installed syst...

Everything You Should Know About Double Chin Treatment

A double chin, medically known as submental fat, is a common concern that affects people of all ages and body types. Thanks to modern cosmetic proce...

The Modern Role of a Dentist in Oral and Overall Health

When most people think of a dentist, they imagine routine check-ups, cleanings, or cavity fillings. While these remain vital aspects of dental care...

Reliable Solutions for Gate Repairs and Emergency Fixes in Melbourne

Gates are more than just entry points to a property. They are essential for security, privacy, and convenience in both residential and commercial se...

Driving Innovation and Reliability with a Professional Engineering Company Melbourne

Engineering is at the core of modern infrastructure, manufacturing, and construction. From the tallest skyscrapers to the most advanced energy syste...

Telematics: Driving Business Efficiency

Telematics, the clever combination of telecommunications and information technology, has evolved from simple vehicle tracking to become an indispens...

5 Signs Your Pool Filter Needs Professional Cleaning

Is your pool water looking cloudy, your pump working overtime, or the jets losing pressure?  These are common warning signs that your pool filter mi...

Social Media: Is It Increasing Rates of Anxiety and Depression?

In today’s connected world, social media has become an integral part of daily life. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook offer opportuni...

Preventive Maintenance Tips for Hydraulic Equipment

Hydraulic equipment plays a crucial role in industries ranging from construction and mining to agriculture and manufacturing. Whether it’s powerin...

Choosing the Right LiDAR System for Your Project

When planning a project that relies on accurate spatial data, selecting the right LiDAR system is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make. ...

The History of Craft Beer: From Monasteries to Modern Breweries

Craft beer has a rich and fascinating history that stretches back centuries. What we enjoy today in trendy taprooms and bustling breweries is the re...

How Natural Pearls Shaped Trade Routes and Global Economies

Throughout history, natural pearls—those rare, untamed treasures formed by nature itself—have exerted a powerful influence on trade networks, po...

How To Choose The Right Insulation For Your Space

Selecting the appropriate insulation for your home or building is a critical decision that affects comfort, energy efficiency, and present and future ...

7 Best Things to Do in Beaufort, Victoria

Beaufort is a charming small town in Victoria’s Goldfields, full of history, natural beauty, and warm, welcoming locals. Whether you’re passing th...

What to Expect During Divorce Mediation & Settlement

Divorce can be a difficult and emotionally draining process, but mediation and settlement often provide a constructive path forward. Instead of goin...

Navigating Disability Services in Perth: Your Questions Answered

Understanding the landscape of disability support can feel overwhelming, especially when you're just starting out. If you’re looking for support a...

How Veneers and Dental Implants Work Together for Full Smile Restoration

Modern dentistry has strong instruments that can produce life-changing outcomes when it comes to repairing a smile that has been impacted by tooth los...

Gen Z’s Are Going off Grid – But Is It Sustainable?

Australia’s cost of living crisis is causing Gen Z to get creative with frugal living options. Earlier this year, young couple Koby and Amelie wan...