Cross-pollination - The Orchid Evolution

Amazingly, orchids make up more than twice the number of bird species. Could this be due to cross-pollination? This is where the pollen of one flower would be placed on the stigma of another one, regardless whether the flower is of the same species or not.

The purpose of cross-pollination of Orchids would be to ensure the reproduction of other orchids. The orchid's ovary would swell over a period of one to two weeks which would indicate a successful pollination.

Orchids appear almost everywhere except for the glaciers. You will find that areas like Asia, Central America and South America, Orchids hosts the richest concentration of Orchids.

Besides using cross-pollination, scientists went on to discover new ways which include tissue culture methods to ensure the survival of various orchid species that evolved through the ages. These techniques were devised to help the seeds of the Orchid germinate. This in turn would eliminate the need of fungus to stimulate germination.

The main ingredient used for the artificial sowing of orchids would be agar agar, which is a substance that would combine with a carbohydrate energy source. This source in turn would be derived from sources like pineapple, banana, tomato puree or even peaches.

The agar agar has to be cooked in sterile conditions and then poured into jars for the substance to flourish. These tissue culture methods take place under strict conditions in a laboratory.

On the other hand cross-pollination was responsible for the continued survival of the orchid species. Various investigations as to the intricacies of the delicate orchid flower was conducted by the likes of Charles Darwin 'the father of evolution'. He described the process in his book "Fertilization of Orchids" in 1862.

Apparently, the origin of the Orchid species goes way back to a period where the dinosaurs came into existence. Scientists discovered an extinct type of stingless bee trapped in a orchid specie called Miocene amber more than 15 to 20 million years ago. This also proved that insects were active pollinators since that time, and carry on to do so in our modern era.

Orchids are very delicate plant species and comes equipped with highly specialized pollination systems that makes it hard for it to get pollinated. In colder regions most orchids would rely on self-pollination instead of cross-pollination to ensure its survival. It is in these regions where tissue culture methods are used quite often.