POLLINATOR LIMITATION AND POSITION DEPENDENT FRUIT-SET IN THE HIGH ANDEAN ORCHID MYROSMODES-COCHLEARE (ORCHIDACEAE)

Myrosmodes cochleare is a terrestrial orchid restricted to high elevations of the northern Andes. It is self-compatible but not autogamous. Flowering begins at the apex of the inflorescence, but flower size increases steadily towards the base. Fruit set of selfed flowers was found to increase significantly from the apex to the base of the inflorescence. Open-pollinated fruit set was significantly lower than hand-pollinated fruit set overall, but the highest levels occurred in the middle of the inflorescence. Eumenid wasps and a calliphorid fly were observed to pollinate the flowers, but visits were rare and occurred only during infrequent warm periods.