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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Title:		Flowers of Cypripedium fargesii (Orchidaceae) fool flat-footed flies (Platypezidae) by faking fungus-infected foliage
Author(s):		Ren ZX; Li DZ; Bernhardt P; Wang H;
Address:		"Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biogeography and Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China"
Journal Title:		Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:		2011
Volume:		20110418
Issue:		18
Page Number:		7478 - 7480
DOI:		10.1073/pnas.1103384108
ISSN/ISBN:		1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Charles Darwin was fascinated by the orchid-pollinator interactions, but he did not realize that many orchid species are pollinated by deceit. Cypripedium, a model lineage of nonrewarding orchid flowers, is pollinated primarily by bees. Here we present both an example of floral mimesis of fungus-infected foliage in orchids and an example of flat-footed flies (Agathomyia sp.; Platypezidae) as pollen vectors for angiosperms. Cypripedium fargesii is a nectarless, terrestrial, endangered orchid from southwestern China that requires cross-pollination to produce the maximum number of viable embryos. All insects caught entering or leaving the labellum sac were Agathomyia sp. carrying conidia of Cladosporium sp. on their mouthparts and legs, suggesting mycophagy. Blackish hairy spots on the upper surface of foliage may imitate black mold spots, serving as short-term visual lures. Some odor molecules also associated with Cladosporium cultures were isolated in the floral scent. Mimesis of fungus-infected foliage probably represents an overlooked but important option in angiosperm diversification, because there are three to five more Cypripedium spp. in southwestern China with the same mode of floral presentation and black-spotted hairy leaves"
Keywords:		"Adaptation, Biological/*physiology Animals China Cladosporium *Cues Diptera/microbiology/*physiology Flowers/*anatomy & histology/chemistry Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Odorants Orchidaceae/*anatomy & histology/chemistry Pollination/*physiology Sp;"
Notes:		"MedlineRen, Zong-Xin Li, De-Zhu Bernhardt, Peter Wang, Hong eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2011/04/20 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 May 3; 108(18):7478-80. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1103384108. Epub 2011 Apr 18"