An Enthusiasm for Orchids: Sex and Deception in Plant Evolution

by John Alcock

Book Overview

The male thynnine wasp's extreme sexual enthusiasm is crucial to reproduction of hammer orchids in the wild. Hammer orchids have co-evolved to produce odors identical to those manufactured by female thynnine wasps. The male wasp's superb sensitivity to the scent of his female mate is the basis for the hammer orchid's deceit--in effect, orchids exploit the male insect's highly adaptive sense of smell for their own propagation. While pollinating orchids...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019518274X
• ISBN13: 9780195182743
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 8.8"