Synopses & Reviews
Recent studies have revealed remarkable complexity and diversity in orchid-pollinator relationships. These studies comprise a vast literature currently scattered in numerous, often obscure, journals and books. The Pollination Biology of North American Orchids brings together, for the first time, a comprehensive treatment of this information for all native and introduced North American orchids found north of Mexico and Florida. It provides detailed information on genetic compatibility, breeding systems, pollinators, pollination mechanisms, fruiting success, and limiting factors for each species. Distribution, habitat, and floral morphology are also summarized. In addition, detailed line drawings emphasize orchid reproductive organs and their adaptation to known pollinators. This, the first of two volumes, furnishes a brief introduction to the general morphology of the orchid flower and the terminology used to describe orchid breeding systems and reproductive strategies. It treats the lady's-slippers of genus Cypripedium, subfamily Cypripedioideae, and nine genera of the subfamily Orchidoideae, including the diverse rein orchids of genus Platanthera.
Review
From the reviews: "Argue ... provides a well-organized summary and synthesis of research conducted on the pollination biology of orchids north of Florida and Mexico. ... each chapter contains illustrations that demonstrate the floral structure of orchids, especially in relation to their pollination mode and pollinator. Researchers and students studying orchid biology or conservation, as well as the interested general reader or orchid enthusiast, will likely find this book to be a valuable resource. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Informed general readers, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners." (A. L. Jacobsen, Choice, Vol. 49 (11), July, 2012)
Review
From the reviews:"Argue ... provides a well-organized summary and synthesis of research conducted on the pollination biology of orchids north of Florida and Mexico. ... each chapter contains illustrations that demonstrate the floral structure of orchids, especially in relation to their pollination mode and pollinator. Researchers and students studying orchid biology or conservation, as well as the interested general reader or orchid enthusiast, will likely find this book to be a valuable resource. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Informed general readers, graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners." (A. L. Jacobsen, Choice, Vol. 49 (11), July, 2012)
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction
Section I. Subfamily Cypripedioideae (the slipper orchids)
Chapter 2. Cypripedium L. (the lady's-slippers), Introduction
Chapter 3. Section Acaulia
Cypripedium acaule Aiton (pink or stemless lady's-slipper)
Chapter 4. Section Obtusipetala
Cypripedium reginae Walter (showy lady's-slipper)
Cypripedium passerinum Richardson (sparrow's egg lady's-slipper)
Chapter 5. Section Cypripedium
Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury (yellow lady's-slipper)
Cypripedium candidum Muhlenberg ex Willdenow (small white lady's-slipper)
Cypripedium montanum Douglas ex Lindley (mountain lady's-slipper)
Cypripedium kentuckiense C. F. Reed (ivory lady's-slipper, purloined slipper)
Chapter 6. Sections Arietinum and Enantiopetalum
Arietinum
Cypripedium arietinum R. Brown (ram's head lady's-slipper)
Enantiopetalum
Cypripedium fasciculatum Kellogg ex S. Watson (clustered lady's-slipper)
Chapter 7. Sections Irapeana and Bifolia
Irapeana
Cypripedium californicum A. Gray (California lady's-slipper)
Bifolia Cypripedium guttatum Swartz (spotted lady's-slipper) and Cypripedium
yatabeanum Makino (green moccasin-flower)
Section II. Subfamily Orchidoideae (Part one)
Tribe Orchideae
Chapter 8. Platanthera L., Introduction
Chapter 9. Limnorchis Group
Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindley ex L. C. Beck (tall white northern bog