Most orchids have conspicuous storage organs. For epiphytic orchids, storage organs are enlarged stems called pseudobulbs. Considerable efforts have been devoted to the study of orchids in recent years. In contrast, few studies have examined the role of pseudobulbs in orchid growth and survival. This paper reviews the photosynthetic role of pseudobulbs, its role in partitioning of assimilates a...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS In New Zealand epiphytic orchids are represented by four genera and eight species. The genera Earina (three species) and Winika (one species) are the most conspicuous and widespread. These are likely to be some of the southernmost distributed genera of epiphytic orchids in the world. METHODS To identify the pollination strategies that have evolved in these orchids, hand-po...

• Specific orchid–fungal associations are known for nonphotosynthetic orchids but fungal diversity in photosynthetic orchids is thought to be quite broad. Specific fungal associations will figure prominently in conservation efforts, while diverse associations may require less attention. We combined culture techniques with ITS and mtLSU sequences and phylogenetic analysis to determine the geneti...

Terrestrial orchids represent a wide diversity of species that are characterised by an equally diverse range of life history attributes. Threatened and endangered species of terrestrial orchids have been identif ed on all continents where they occur and conservation plans have been developed for some species. Even though there is a considerable amount of information on the ecology of terrestria...

PREMISE OF THE STUDY In addition to autotrophic and fully mycoheterotrophic representatives, the orchid family comprises species that at maturity obtain C and N partially from fungal sources. These partial mycoheterotrophs are often associated with fungi that simultaneously form ectomycorrhizas with trees. This study investigates mycorrhizal nutrition for orchids from the southwestern Australia...

The traditional therapeutic uses of some indigenous orchids of Bangladesh are described in this paper. Terrestrial (11) and epiphytic (18) orchids, 29 in total, are used by Bangladeshi rural and tribal people for the treatment of nearly 45 different diseases and ailments. Roots, tubers, pseudobulbs, stems, leaves and even whole plants are used. Some herbal preparations have miraculous curative ...

BACKGROUND Wild orchids are illegally harvested and traded in Nepal for use in local traditional medicine, horticulture, and international trade. This study aims to: 1) identify the diversity of species of wild orchids in trade in Nepal; 2) study the chain of commercialization from collector to client and/or export; 3) map traditional knowledge and medicinal use of orchids; and 4) integrate the...

Abstract: Thailand is the origin of about 1300 species and 180–190 genera of orchids, comprising the major tropical orchids in the world. These wild Thai orchids grow naturally in various habitats and have unique flowers, stems, leaves, and roots. Many genera, including Vanda, Rhynchostylis, Ascocentrum, Aerides, Phalaenopsis, Doritis, Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, Cirrhopetalum, Spathoglottis, and...

The location of possible glacial refugia of six Apostasioideae representatives is estimated based on ecological niche modeling analysis. The distribution of their suitable niches during the last glacial maximum (LGM) is compared with their current potential and documented geographical ranges. The climatic factors limiting the studied species occurrences are evaluated and the niche overlap betwe...

Nectarless flowers that deceive pollinators offer an opportunity to study asymmetric plant-insect interactions. Orchids are a widely used model for studying these interactions because they encompass several thousand species adopting deceptive pollination systems. High levels of intra-specific phenotypic variation have been reported in deceptive orchids, suggesting a reduced consistency of polli...