From aceska@cue.bc.ca Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 09:41:33 -0700 From: Adolf Ceska To: ben@cue.bc.ca Subject: BEN # 80 BBBBB EEEEEE NN N ISSN 1188-603X BB B EE NNN N BBBBB EEEEE NN N N BOTANICAL BB B EE NN NN ELECTRONIC BBBBB EEEEEE NN N NEWS No. 80 October 24, 1994 aceska@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Victoria, B.C. ----------------------------------------------------------- Dr. A. Ceska, P.O.Box 8546, Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3S2 ----------------------------------------------------------- POLLINATION OF EPIPACTIS HELLEBORINE (ORCHIDACEAE) From: Marilyn Light <009211@acadvm1.uottawa.ca> [compiled from ] Epipactis helleborine is a European orchid that, since it was first reported at Syracuse, New York in 1879, has spread to appropriate habitat from coast to coast. This orchid was first reported in Illinois by Julian Steyermark in 1954. More details may be found in "An Introduction to the Ecology of the Illinois Orchidaceae" by Charles Sheviak (Illinois State Museum. Scien- tific Papers XIV, 1974). Wasps (Vespidae) were reported as pollinators of Epipactis helleborine in Europe by Darwin 1877 in "The various contrivances by which orchids are fertilized by insects." William Judd reported four species of wasp feeding at flowers of E. helleborine in "Wasps (Vespidae) pollinating Helleborine, Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz at Owen Sound, Ontario" (Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Ontario (1971) 102:115-119). The species were Vespula arenaria, V. consobrina and V. vidua. He also observed a Polistes fuscatus worker feeding in the flowers. I study native orchids including their population dynamics, inter- and intra-clonal reproductive compatibility and mycor- rhizal associations. I work primarily with Epipactis helleborine and Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens. I also have some interest in the reproductive strategies of Platanthera psycodes. Recent studies have included tracking the movement of pol- linators (Vespula sp.) by colouring the pollen with a dye and looking for dyed pollen on the stigmas of other nearby flowers. I have found that there is a higher incidence of visits between flowers on the same inflorescence than between plants. Another investigation has employed ultra-violet reflectance photography as a technique to determine whether or not a flower has been pollinated. Pollinated stigmas of E. helleborine become par- tially UV reflective within 15 minutes post-pollination, totally UV absorptive within 30 minutes. Investigations of pollen ger- minability with this species suggest a good case for pollen competition. While I have never seen Polistes feeding in the flowers, I have observed Vespula visits. The orchid flower has two pollinia attached to a sticky projection (viscidium). These pollinia are fragile sacs which fragment fairly readily after they are taken from the flower. The wasp alights, bends forward to lap nectar from the flower lip, and while doing so brushes the viscidium with the head. When the wasp backs out of the flower, it carries the pollinia on its head. Wasps can collect quite a few pollinia over time. Each time a pollen-carrying wasp visits a flower, pollen is left on the stigma. Occasionally an entire pollinium is deposited intact. Wasps visit flowers repeatedly, whether or not the flowers have been previously visited/pollinated. Visits normally last 2-5 seconds although they can be considerably longer if the wasps get 'drunk' on the nectar. On August 9 I observed a wasp carry- ing one pair of pollinia enter a virgin flower, leave then re- enter the same flower a few seconds later. It then visited two other previously pollinated flowers on the same stem. The same wasp then moved to another plant 25 cm distant and visited Flowers 8,6,5,8,1,3,2, all of which had been previously pol- linated. It then left the site. (Flowers are numbered from the base of an upright inflorescence.) This inflorescence had 42 buds/flowers, 11 of which were open. I had just self-pollinated Flower 11 approximately five minutes prior to the pollinator visit and had removed Flower 10 for photographic record. I have observed some anomalies which may be of interest. Most orchids such as E. helleborine produce pollen in tetrads. I have observed some plants producing monads interspersed amongst the tetrads. These monads are essentially giant undivided grains. They do not germinate in vitro. Another plant produced tetrads with two of the four elements shriveled. In this instance, all the tetrads were similarly affected. Normal elements germinate in vitro. Any suggestions as to what might be causing such anomalies would be appreciated. Marilyn Light University of Ottawa Chairman, Conservation Committee, Canadian Orchid Congress GIVE-AWAY JOURNALS - MADRONO From: "Jo Bohanan" (Natural Resources Library, North Carolina State University) We have the following issues of the journal Madrono (A West American Journal of Botany published by the California Botanical Society) available to anyone who would like to have them: Jan. 1957-Jan. 1973. If interested, please send e-mail to jo_bohanan@ncsu.edu PLANT SYSTEMATIST POSITION - UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON From: Mary Piper The Department of Botany invites applications and nominations for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in systematics of higher plants. The successful candidate must be qualified to teach under- graduate and graduate courses in plant systematics, develop a rigorous research program in molecular plant systematics/phylogeny/evolution, and curate a major Herbarium. There is extensive opportunity to develop collaborations within the Department of Botany and with other units on campus as well as the potential to attract graduate students in systematics through departmental fellowships. A Ph.D. in Botany or a related area is required. Postdoctoral experience is desirable. Candidates should exhibit potential for independent and innovative research and teaching, and a willing- ness to cooperate with a broad spectrum of biologists on campus. Salary: Commensurate with education and experience. Position available: September 16, 1995 but may be extended if suitable candidates are not found. To apply: Send a letter of application with a statement of your teaching and research experience and interests, curriculum vitae and a list of publications (up to three reprints may also be sent), and arrange to have three letters of recommendation forwarded to: Dr. E. Van Volkenburgh, Chair Search Committee, Department of Botany, KB-15, University of Washington, KB-15, Seattle, WA 98195. Phone: 206-543-1942, FAX 206-685-1728, e-mail Mary Piper, piper@u.washington.edu. Priority will be given to applications received by 30 November 1994. The University of Washington is building a culturally diverse faculty and strongly encourages applications from women and minority candidates. NEW PUBLICATIONS Goward, Trevor, Bruce McCune, & Del Meidinger. 1994. THE LICHENS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, ILLUSTRATED KEYS. PART 1, FOLIOSE AND SQUAMULOSE SPECIES. Special Report Series No. 8, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria, B.C. 181 p. ISBN 0-7726-2194-2 [soft cover] Available from Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort Street, Vic- toria, B.C. V8W 1E7, Phone: (604) 386-4636, Fax: (604) 386-0221, Price: CDN$ 32.00 Hurd, Emerenciana G., Goodrich, Sherel, & Nancy L. Shaw. 1994. FIELD GUIDE TO INTERMOUNTAIN RUSHES. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-306. Ogden UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Inter- mountain Research Station. 56 p. Abstract. This guide provides technical descriptions of 23 Intermountain rushes (Juncus spp.), including the common and several less abundant species. Line drawings and color or black and white photos illustrate diagnostic characteristics of each species. An illustrated morphology and a glossary acquaint the layperson with the terminology used to classify rushes. The guide is intended as a tool to aid in classification; it is not inclusive. Greuter, W., J. McNeill, et al. 1994. INTERNATIONAL CODE OF BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE (TOKYO CODE) 1994. Adopted by the Fif- teenth International Botanical Congress, Yokohama, August- September 1993. Regnum Vegetabile Vol. 131. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein. 389 p. Available from: Koeltz Scientific Books, P.O. Box 13 60, D-61453 Koenigstein, Germany. Phone: (+49) 0617493720, Fax: (+49) 06174937240, Price DM 60.00