Question regarding Epidendrum nocturnum

[Jeff214]

I recently purchased an Epidendrum nocturnum. While it came in bud, a few of these blasted... Once the buds began to shrivel, the back end of the bud (ovary?) began to swell. Is this trying to form a seed? I've read that this species is capable of self-pollination, even without blooming?? (please correct me if I'm wrong)

First photo shows a bud, unblasted. Second photos shows a blasted bud with the posterior part enlarging.

If it's a seed pod, I'm going to remove it. It seems a bit stressed in its new environment.

[Afid]

Yep, looks like it is growing a seedpod, interesting! I never knew those could do that.

[Roberta]

I do find unusual things "knocked up" ... some just self-pollinate easily (not necessarily by species... individual plants) Since this one arrived already pregnant, either something flying in the nursery, or even just being jostled (causing it to self) could have done it.

[DirtyCoconuts]

your guess is correct- this plant DOES self pollenate before the flowers open and in one case i had, before it really even formed fully into a bud.

they are a really fun and easy plant ( for me they are native so, Duh!) and they flowers are exceptional!

i have a nice spike on mine too

---------- Post added at 11:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:37 AM ----------

if you decide to cut the pod, remember to use a clean blade and dust it with something...introducing a disease or pathogen is no better than letting it grow seeds

[Jeff214]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses!

Interesting. I wonder if the environment is so stable (Florida) and the plant well adapted that the plant favored a system to partially ignore flowering and cross-pollination. Why waste energy to increase genetic diversity, if it's not beneficial for the species to survive?

This is my first time seeing a seed pod on an orchid. While, I'm curious to see how it grows... I'll remove it to give the plant a chance to acclimate to its new environment.

[Roberta]

Different species... I am pretty sure that a hummingbird was involved in this one (but it's still a selfing because there wasn't anything in the neighborhood related) Sophronitis bicolor (Cattleya dichroma) had three nice flowers (two from one growth, not all that common, at least for me) Not for long... But these are very definitely hummingbird magnets.

[Jeff214]

Hopefully they weren't pollinated too soon and you got to enjoy those beautiful blooms!

I have hummingbirds that visit my citrus trees almost daily but they seem completely uninterested in the orchids. I've seen a good share of honey bees trying to get inside an orchid. ...and failing.

[Roberta]

Well, the one on the right got pollinated (I only got a few days' enjoyment, glad that I got the photo with the 3 flowers before that), and the other flower from the same growth just withered. But, I have two more buds coming, so the bloom time will be extended. I also find seed capsules on reed-stem Epidendrums all the time. I strongly suspect hummingbirds on those too, though I haven't caught any in the act where I did see a lot of activity around that Sophronitis. That's OK... those hummingbirds are such a delight. I occasionally find a bee stuck in a flower, like L. anceps... they commit suicide when they can't get out because it's too tight.

[DirtyCoconuts]

dragonflies are the pollenators of my reed stems....they love to land on them in the wind and watch for prey.


amazing flying ninjas

[DirtyCoconuts]

here is another Epi nocturnum that didn't bother with the whole "flower" part of the preproduction cycle.....straight to pregnant LOL

Vanda by J Solo, on Flickr