Platanthera peramoena [pollination & insect interaction]

This picture shows the sticky stigma, located between the anther sacs, covered in tiny grains of pollen and also hairs of the pollinator while visting the flower [Spicebush Butterfly and Hummingbird Clear Winged Moth are known pollinators of this orchid]. Platanthera peramoena. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-25.

These two pictures [above & below] show the sticky stigma, located between the anther sacs, covered in tiny grains of pollen and also hairs of the pollinator while visting the flower [Spicebush Butterfly and Hummingbird Clear Winged Moth are known pollinators of this orchid]. Platanthera peramoena. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-25. Notice the flower in the upper right in the top picture has a pollinarium completely removed from the anther a sac and the entire pollinium is stuck to the stigma.

This picture shows a pollinarium the is partly removed from the anther sac on the left. At the tip is the sticky viscidium followed by the caudicle, the tube, and at the end is the pollinium. You can see the tiny grains of massulae that make up the pollinium, which are made of grains of pollen. Also the viscidium has tiny hairs from the unknown pollinator who visited the fllower and partially removed the pollinarium. Platanthera peramoena. Dauphin county, Pa. 7-24-25

This picture shows a pollinarium the is partly removed from the anther sac on the right. At the tip is the sticky viscidium followed by the caudicle, the tube, and at the end is the pollinium. You can see the tiny grains of massulae that make up the pollinium, which are made of grains of pollen. Also notice the stigma, in the middle of the two anther sacs, is covered with tiny grains of pollen. Platanthera peramoena. Dauphin county, Pa. 7-24-25

A pollinarium has been removed from the anther sack of Platanthera peramoena and is now stuck to the spur of another flower. Also an unknown spider can be seen hunting on P. peramoena. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-24. You can see the tiny grains of massulae, that are made up of grains of pollen, located at the end of pollinarium at the pollinium. Also show is the caudicle the tube between the viscidium and the pollinium.

Close up of the anther sack and the pollinarium contained within. Also notice the large viscidium at the tip on the anther sack [Platanthera peramoena]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-24

Close up of the flower of Platanthera peramoena showing the nectary opening and the anther sacks. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-24

Spicebush Swallowtail [Papilio troilus] on Purple Fringless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-24

Spicebush Swallowtail [Papilio troilus] on Purple Fringless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-24. This was the first time that I was able to capture pollinaria from P. peramoena on a butterfly.

Spicebush Swallowtail [Papilio troilus] showing a single pollinarium stuck to its right eye, on Purple Fringless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-24. This was the first time that I was able to capture pollinaria from P. peramoena on a butterfly.

Spicebush Swallowtail [Papilio troilus] on Purple Fringless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena]. Dauphin County, Pa. 7-24-24

Notice in this picture both viscidium "tabs" have been removed from the anther sacs, but not enough to remove the pollinarium. Most likely from a Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly [Papilio troilus] or Hummingbird Clearwing Moth [Hemaris thysbe], known pollinators of Platanthera peramoena. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-3-20

Unknown pollinator hairs stuck in the stigmatic fluid. Purple Fringeless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena].

Pollinia attached to the stigma on Purple Fringeless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena].

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth [Hemaris thysbe] known pollinator of Purple Fringeless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-13-20

Known pollinators of Purple Fringeless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena]. Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly [Papilio troilus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-3-20. Hopefully its eye will come into contact with viscidium and when leaving will pull out the pollinarium. And when visiting the next flower the pollinia will bush against the stigma [the female part of the flower], the thus pollination will be achieved

Known pollinators of Purple Fringeless Orchid [Platanthera peramoena]. Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly [Papilio troilus] and Hummingbird Clearwing Moth [Hemaris thysbe]. Also pictured pollinia stuck on the stigma and unknown pollinator hairs stuck in the stigmatic fluid.

Platanthera peramoena ​[pollination & insect interaction]

Platanthera peramoena [pollination & insect interaction]