Coryanthes

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iOrchid genus Coryanthes
The "Bucket Orchids"

Coryanthes verrucolineata

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Maxillarieae
Subtribe:	Stanhopeinae
Genus:	Coryanthes Hook.

Species

see text...

The term "Bucket orchid" can refer to any of the species in the genus Coryanthes, which are tropical epiphytic plants in the Orchidaceae family. Bucket orchids are an excellent example of coevolution and mutualism, as the orchids have evolved along with bees in the Euglossa genus and both depend on each other for reproduction. One to three flowers are borne on a pendent stem that comes from the base of the pseudobulbus. The flower secretes a fluid (see Coryanthes alborosea picture) into the flower lip, which is shaped like a bucket. The Euglossa bees are attracted to the flower by a strong scent, which they store in specialized packets in their hind legs, as they need the scent in their courtship dances in order to attract females. The bees, trying to get the waxy substance containing the scent, sometimes fall to the fluid-filled bucket. As they are trying to escape, they find that there are some small knobs on which they can climb on. The knobs lead to a spout (see the Coryanthes leucocorys picture) , but as the bee is trying to escape, the spout closes. At that same moment, the small packets containing the pollen of the orchid get pressed against the thorax of the bee. However, the glue on the pollen packets does not set immediately, so the orchid keeps the bee trapped until the glue has set. Once the glue has set, the bee is let free and he can now dry his wings and fly off. His ordeal may have taken as long as forty-five minutes. Hopefully, the bee will go to another flower, where, if the flower is to be successful at reproducing, the bee falls once again into the bucket of the same species. This time the pollen packets get stuck to the stigma as the bee is escaping, and after a while they orchid will produce a seed pod.

The bee, having stored the wax with the scent on his back legs, can then fly off to mate with a female bee.

1 Species
2 Intergeneric hybrids
3 Gallery
4 External links

[edit] Species

Coryanthes albertinae
Coryanthes alborosea
Coryanthes balfouriana
Coryanthes barkeri
Coryanthes bergoldii
Coryanthes bicolorata
Coryanthes biflora
Coryanthes bruckmuelleri
Coryanthes boyi
Coryanthes colinata
Coryanthes elegantium

Coryanthes eximia
Coryanthes gerlachiana
Coryanthes gernotii
Coryanthes hunteriana
Coryanthes leucocorys
Coryanthes macrantha
Coryanthes macrocorys
Coryanthes maculata
Coryanthes mastersii
Coryanthes misasii
Coryanthes parkeri

Coryanthes picturata
Coryanthes punctata
Coryanthes powellii
Coryanthes sanderi
Coryanthes speciosa
Coryanthes splendens
Coryanthes sumnerana
Coryanthes trifoliata
Coryanthes vasquezii
Coryanthes verruclinata
Coryanthes wolfii

[edit] Intergeneric hybrids

Coryhopea (Coryanthes × Stanhopea)

[edit] Gallery

Coryanthes alborosea	Coryanthes gerlachiana	Coryanthes hunteriana	Coryanthes leucocorys
Coryanthes macrantha	Coryanthes macrocorys	Coryanthes maculata	Coryanthes mastersiana
Coryanthes picturata	Coryanthes speciosa	Coryanthes trifoliata	Coryanthes verrucolineata