William Wood

Co-evolutionary Symbiotic Relationship Examination

1) The first plant that I will examine is the ‘Hammer Orchid’. It is an

angiosperm with a single, heart shaped leaf. This is an insectival abellum,
which it uses to attract pollinators. ‘Hammer Orchids’ have speciaAlized
their method of pollination by only being pollinated by the ‘Thynnid Wasp’.
The ‘Thynnid” female is ant-like and drab, and it is wingless. The ‘Hammer
Orchid’ releases perfume to attract a male from its abellum, which resembles
a female perched and waiting for a mate. The male begins to engage in a
simulated sex with the flower, and in the process picks up pollen. When he
moves from flower to flower trying to find an actual mate, he distributes
pollen between the flowers.
The co-evolutionary traits are, releasing the pheromones when the
females are still either grounded or have their wings, so as to represent a
‘mate ready’ female, also by shaping a part of itself like the female, with the
pollen inside, the flower is able to successfully propagate in this manner.

It is clear, after having studied plants, that flowers are very sensitive
organisms, orchids being some of the more delicate. So without the means
to self-pollinate or the means to trans-pollinate, a ‘pollinator’ is utterly
necessary for the ‘Hammer Orchid’ to reproduce. I really like this one, I
mean it tricks a bug into simulating ‘bug sex’ with it in order to have ‘plant
sex’.

2) Another species of plant that has developed a co-evolutionary

reproductive method with insects is the ‘African Water Lily”. In order to
capture insects that evolved to have flight which carry pollen on their bodies,
the ‘African Water Lily’ blossoms on the second day with hundreds of slippery
and silky stamen. It uses a pool of ‘nectar-esque’ to entice, then trap, and
eventually kill insects that are lured to its scent. Once bathed in the liquid,
the pollen grains are washed from the bodies of the insects and are used to
fertilize the eggs below.

The co-evolutionary traits present, are the bugs ability to fly, which
required the plant to find a way to not only attract them, but also get the
pollen off of their bodies. The full effect of pheromones on small organisms
that rely heavily on chemosensing organs so heavily, must be impressive.
Once lured, the silky and slippery stamen maintains them inside of the
stamen, only to fall into a pool of poisonous liquid. Since these lilies are
aquatic, and lack the ability to reproduce using water, and having enclosed
sex organs, also limited them in the ability to reproduce using wind. A
pollinator was the only logical evolutionary step, and why go chase tail, when
you can have it come to you….my motto entirely.
 Some other quick examples since I have the time, are the Trigger plant
which uses a protruding ‘trap-stick’ that depresses downward onto insects
that land on the plant and traps them in place. Versus the previous
examples which require flying insects for pollination, the desert plants have
adapted climbing structures for ants to access their nectar from the ground.
Flowers that cater to birds also exist, like the ‘African Proteus’, which grows
downward so that the birds can access it from the bottom, and it prevents
mammals and reptiles from climbing into it.