title: Pollination: self-fertilization strategy in an orchid.
abstract: Mating in flowering plants normally relies on animals, wind, gravity or secretion to convey pollen grains from the male (anther) to the female (stigma) organ. Here we describe a new type of self-pollination mechanism in the tree-living orchid Holcoglossum amesianum, in which the bisexual flower turns its anther against gravity through 360 degrees in order to insert pollen into its own stigma cavity - without the aid of any pollinating agent or medium. This mode of self-pollination, which occurs under windless, drought conditions when insects are scarce, adds to the variety of mechanisms that have evolved in angiosperms to ensure their reproductive success.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Biotechnology and BioMedicine, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
authors.forename: Ke-Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhong-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: LaiQiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Li-Qiang
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guang-Da
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D005306:Fertilization; D035264:Flowers; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D011058:Pollen; D012639:Seeds