Why orchids have evolved sexual mimicry for pollination is open for debate. Plants that are farther away from each other are more likely to be distant relatives, so mimicry may reduce inbreeding.

Orchid seeds are incredibly tiny and cannot germinate without a suitable nutrient-rich medium like agar. Therefore, purchasing or preparing a suitable medium for the seeds to grow is crucial.

The orchid uses both visual and olfactory mimicry to resemble a female wasp. This mimicry lures male wasps into attempting to mate with the flower, during which they pick up or deposit pollen.

The pollination strategies developed by orchids reads like a crime thriller – indeed, Australia is the world epicentre of pollination by sexual mimicry, where a host of different insect groups ...

Orchid seeds are remarkable for their diminutive size and lack of intrinsic nutrient reserves, relying heavily on symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi for successful germination and ...

“It would be more efficient to sow seeds of threatened orchids on bark in the vicinity of adults rather than at distance or on other trees,” says Petrolli. Journal of Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365 ...

A real Dracula orchid is shown with a fly on the flower's mushroom-like labellum during University of Oregon-led research in Ecuador. The labellum is a mimicry technique used by the orchids to ...

Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi (OMF): Fungi that form symbiotic associations with orchid seeds and roots, supplying essential nutrients for germination and growth. Protocorm: ...