Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
Tribe Malaxideae
Abstract Fungus gnats are the primary pollinators of Malaxis paludosa with the
pollinia attaching on the ventral-anterior part of the thorax behind the mouthparts.
Fruit set is substantial. Liparis liliifolia is self-incompatible, and fruit set is signifi-
cantly higher when widely separated individuals are crossed. The pollinators remain
unknown. L. loeselii is self-compatible and autogamous but not agamospermous.
Autogamy is facilitated by rain, which on striking the anther cap propels the pollinia
onto the surface of the stigma. Populations are short lived, expanding or disappearing
with changing conditions, and are maintained primarily by seedling recruitment.
Keywords Malaxis s Liparis s2AINASSISTEDAUTOGAMYs6ENTRALTHORACICVISCIDIA
ATTACHMENTs3ELFINCOMPATIBILITYs3EEDLINGRECRUITMENTs&UNGUSANDGALLGNATS
s#ECIDOMYIIDGALLMIDGE
The tribe Malaxideae includes 13 genera with a broad distribution in both hemi-
spheres, especially in the tropics and subtropics (Pridgeon et al. 2005 ). Two genera
occur in North America north of Mexico.
Malaxis Solander ex Swartz
Malaxis is a genus of about 300 primarily tropical and subtropical species found in
both the Old and New World. A few temperate species are distributed in Europe and
Asia as well as the Americas. Eight to ten species occur in North America north of
Mexico, but the pollination biology of only one has been examined in any detail.
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