Abstract

SINGER, RODRIGO B. Floral Morphology and Pollination in Orchidaceae: Charles Darwin s Second Book. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2009, vol.14, suppl.1, pp.337-348. ISSN 0120-548X.

Darwin s second book was totally dedicated to the floral functional morphology and pollination of temperate and tropical orchids. This book was published in 1862 and was likely conceived as an assemblage of evidence supporting ideas that were proposed in -On The Origin of The Species-; namely, the advantages of the intercrossing between different coespecific individuals, even if they are hermaphrodite (like the orchids). The great floral diversity and the outstanding number of reproductive strategies that promote cross-pollination in Orchidaceae fascinated Darwin who, in turn, used this plant group as a model to support his ideas. Darwin described for the first time and in a very accurate way, orchid reproductive strategies that clearly promote cross-pollination, such as protandry in terrestrial orchids and the production of unisexual flowers in Catasetum, among many other important contributions. Darwin s ideas and proposals regarding Orchidaceae are analyzed on the light of our present knowledge and prove to be mostly correct and valid.

Keywords : cross-pollination; evolution; floral morphology; Orchidaceae; orhids; pollination.

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