Self-Pollinating Orchid.

Posted by Alex in Everything Else on June 21, 2006 at 11:54 am


Huang Laiqiang of Tsinghua University discovered that for one type of orchid, "procreating is a lonely affair" - it self-pollinates!

Rather than depending on insects or even the wind for pollination, scientist have discovered that the orchid Holcoglossum amesianum actually fertilizes itself, according to a report in this week’s Nature.

The orchid produces no scent or nectar, and the researchers did not see a single instance of pollination by an insect or by wind. Instead, the pollen-bearing anther uncovers itself and rotates into a suitable position to insert into the stigma cavity, where fertilization takes place.

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