Pollinators of European orchids

Attraction of pollinators is vital for most orchids, because insects can transport the pollen, united in so-called pollinia or pollinaria , to the stigma of another plant. Flowers have adapted several features like flower colour, presence of nectar, accessibility of the flower to match the preferences of visiting insects. Some species attract only one specific group of pollinators whereas others attract a broad spectre of visitors. An insect can be regarded as a pollinator if it determinedly and regularly visits an orchid flower an dduring this visit frequently removes the pollinia or pollinaria.

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