Platanthera x bicolor Hybrid -White Fringed [Platanthera blephariglottis] x Orange
Fringed Orchid [Platanthera ciliaris] [pollination & insect interaction]
Bicolor Hybrid Fringed Orchid [P. blephariglottis X P. ciliaris]. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-15-26
Pollination of Bicolor Hybrid Fringed Orchid [P. blephariglottis X P. ciliaris]. A butterfly such as Spicebush or Tiger Swallowtail is drawn to the flower by the colors and sweet scent in search of nectar. Sticking its long proboscis into the nectary opening its eye comes into the sticky viscidium, when the butterfly leaves the flower it pulls the pollinaria out of the anther sac. The butterfly flies away with the pollinarium attached to its eye. Finding another flower the butterfly repeats the the process but as it does it rubs the pollinium, pollen mass [at the tip of the pollinarium] against the stigma and pollination is completed. It is not uncommon for one butterfly to have dozens of pollinaria stuck to its eyes at one time. This description of pollination is the same for a great many Platanthera including P. ciliaris, P. blephariglottis, P. grandifora P. orbiculata and many others. It should be noted that there a whole host of insects that are known pollinators for this and many other orchids with the same plant structure, these insects include many kinds of Bumblebees, and moths, including sphinx moths and others. [above & below]
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail [Papilio glaucus] gathering nectar from a Platanther x bicolor [P. blephariglottis x P. ciliaris], inadvertently now has pollinarium stuck to both its eyes, have been pulled from the anther sac located on either side of the nectary opening, by getting the viscidium [located at the tip of the anther sac] stuck upon its eye. Visiting the next flower the tip of the pollinarium containing the pollinia will rub against the sticky stigma, depositing gains of pollinium on it and pollination will have been completed. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-22-25. [above & below]
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail [Papilio glaucus] gathering nectar from a Platanther x bicolor [P. blephariglottis x P. ciliaris], inadvertently now has pollinarium stuck to both its eyes, have been pulled from the anther sac located on either side of the nectary opening, by getting the viscidium [located at the tip of the anther sac] stuck upon its eye. Visiting the next flower the tip of the pollinarium containing the pollinia will rub against the sticky stigma, depositing gains of pollinium on it and pollination will have been completed. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-22-25.
This close up shows the stigma [the lighter area between the anther sacks and above the nectary opening] having tiny grains of pollinia deposited on it in a straight line. Platanthera x bicolor. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-28-15
Close up showing the beautiful anther sacs on Platanthera x bicolor. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-28-15
Crab Spider [shadow] hunting on Platanthera x bicolor. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-28-15
Crab Spider hunting on Platanthera x bicolor. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-28-15
Crab Spider hunting on Platanthera x bicolor. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-28-15
Crab Spider hunting on Platanthera x bicolor. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-28-15
Crab Spider hunting on Platanthera x bicolor. Luzerne County, Pa. 7-28-15