Floral longevity and nectar secretion of Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb. (Orchidaceae)
2003
Stpiczynska, M.
Flowering and nectar secretion were studied in Platanthera chlorantha in two years. Nectar was secreted and accumulated in this orchid's spur, originating from part of the labellum. The nectary spur was, on average, 32 mm long. It produced 6.86 microliter nectar in 1999 and 7.84 microliter in 2000. The number of flowers per inflorescence and the volume of nectar secreted per flower were not correlated. Nectar secretion and flower longevity differed depending on pollination and flower position in the inflorescence. Among pairs of pollinated and unpollinated flowers there was no difference in the volume of nectar produced; however, the life span of pollinated flowers was shorter than that of unpollinated ones. Within an inflorescence, the lowest-positioned flowers had the largest nectar production and the longest life compared with flowers positioned higher up.
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