Avian seed dispersal in a mycoheterotrophic orchid Cyrtosia septentrionalis
Avian seed dispersal in a mycoheterotrophic orchid Cyrtosia septentrionalis
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DOI：
10.1038/nplants.2015.52
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发表时间：
2015-05-05
期刊：
影响因子：
18
通讯作者：
Kato, Makoto
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Suetsugu, Kenji;Kawakita, Atsushi;Kato, Makoto
兰花产生极小的且无胚乳的种子，这些种子被认为主要是靠风传播的。在此，我们报道了一种菌异养兰花——北火烧兰（Cyrtosia septentrionalis）存在鸟类传播种子的情况，这种兰花生长在林冠郁闭、风力不太可靠的环境中。由于一些兰花占据相似的生境且具有肉质果实，种子传播策略的转变可能是一种此前未被注意到的促进兰花进化成功的机制。
Orchids produce remarkably small seeds lacking endosperm, which are considered to be predominantly wind-dispersed. Here, we report avian seed dispersal in a mycoheterotrophic orchid Cyrtosia septentrionalis, which occurs under closed canopies where wind is less dependable. Because some orchids occupy similar habitats and have fleshy fruits, shifts in seed dispersal strategy may be a previously unnoticed mechanism promoting the orchid's evolutionary success.