Long pollinia on eyes: hawk-moth pollination of Cynorkis uniflora Lindley (Orchidaceae) in Madagascar

The ratio between components of floral female and male functions within the orchid population suggested that the much elongated operative male floral parts result from strong and progressively extreme sex-specific selection for acquiring mates via hawk-moths.

Abstract

The pollination biology of Cynorkis uniflora Lindley (Orchidaceae) was studied on a rocky outcrop in a fragment of montane rain forest in central Madagascar. The plant was obligately pollinated by hawk-moths. Nectar was produced in a floral spur and was accessible to hawk-moths with medium-long and long tongues. All observed visits took place during the 80 min following dusk. Floral traits and visits indicated pollination association with endemic hawk-moths of the genera Nephete and Hippotion with medium tongue length and early-evening habits. The orchid pollinia had extraordinarily long caudicles (c. 16 mm) and were carried attached to the hawk-moths' eyes, thus protruding far in front of the face of the pollinator. The ratio between components of floral female and male functions within the orchid population suggested that the much elongated operative male floral parts result from strong and progressively extreme sex-specific selection for acquiring mates via hawk-moths. By far the most frequent flower-visitors of C. uniflora at the study site were long-tongued nectar thieving hawk-moths whose relative abundance probably reflected faunal imbalance caused by the destruction of nearby moth foraging habitats through deforestation.