Subtribes Goodyerinae and Cranichidinae - The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids: North of Florida and Mexico - page 3

Chapter 1
Subtribes Goodyerinae and Cranichidinae
Abstract Bumblebees are the most important pollinators of North American
species of Goodyera , but pollinator recruitment appears to be limiting. Autogamy
and agamospermy are unknown in our flora. Factors contributing to reproductive
success are summarized. The flowers of Zeuxine are chiefly autogamous or apomic-
tic. The pollination of Platythelys has yet to be studied, but flower morphology
suggests insect pollination. Ponthieva is self-compatible but not autogamous.
Possible pollinators include small halictid bees or oil collecting anthophorid bees.
Keywords Goodyera s Zeuxine s Platythelys s Ponthieva s!UTOGAMYs!POMIXES
s"UMBLEBEESs3MALLmIESs3MALLHALICTIDANDANTHOPHORIDBEES
Goodyerinae
The Goodyerinae include 34 genera found in both the Old and New Worlds, espe-
cially in the tropics and subtropics (Pridgeon et al. 2003 ). Three genera, two native
and one introduced, occur in our flora.
Goodyera R. Brown (Rattlesnake Plantains)
Goodyera is a genus of about 80-100 species with a worldwide distribution
(Pridgeon et al. 2003 &OURAREPRESENTIN.ORTH!MERICANORTHOF-EXICO4HEPOL-
lination biology of G. oblongifolia Raf. (Menzie's or great rattlesnake plantain),
G. repens (L.) Br. Fernald (lesser rattlesnake plantain), and G. tesselata Lodd.
(tessellated rattlesnake plantain) is well documented. Limited data on pollination
are also available for G. pubescens (Willd.) R.Br. (downy rattlesnake plantain).