Orchid reproductive isolation and pollination success

Orchid reproductive isolation and pollination success

Few studies have investigated whether non-rewarding plants affect the pollination success of rewarding plants when they grow in close proximity. Sun et al. investigate floral isolation and mutual effects in orchids between rewarding Galearis diantha and non-rewarding Ponerorchis chusua and find a combination of mechanical isolation and incomplete ethological isolation eliminates the possibility of pollen transfer between two species. Fruit set of non-rewarding species is independent of rewarding species and vice versa.