Almeida A M, Figueiredo R A
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Braz J Biol. 2003 Nov;63(4):551-8. doi: 10.1590/s1519-69842003000400002. Epub 2004 Mar 15.
Epidendrum denticulatum (Orchidaceae) produces nectar on the petioles of buds, flowers, and fruits (extrafloral nectaries) but no nectar is found on its flowers, and it is probably a deceptive species. In the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, some aspects of both the ecology and behavior of Camponotus sericeiventris (Formicinae) and Ectatomma tuberculatum (Ponerinae), two ant species foraging on E. denticulatum extrafloral nectaries, were investigated. Both experiments, using termites as baits and field observations, suggest that these ant species are able to prevent reproductive organ herbivory, without affecting pollinator behaviour. Since a low fruit set is often cited as a characteristic of the family, especially for deceptive species, ants attracted to orchid inflorescences protect reproductive structures and increase the probability of pollination success. Epidendrum denticulatum flowers were visited and probably pollinated by Heliconius erato (Nymphalidae) and Euphyes leptosema (Hesperiidae).
齿瓣石斛（兰科）在芽、花和果实的叶柄上产生花蜜（花外蜜腺），但其花朵上未发现花蜜，它可能是一种欺骗性物种。在巴西大西洋雨林中，研究了两种在齿瓣石斛花外蜜腺上觅食的蚂蚁物种——丝光褐林蚁（蚁亚科）和瘤颚猛蚁（猛蚁亚科）的生态学和行为的一些方面。使用白蚁作为诱饵的实验和野外观察都表明，这些蚂蚁物种能够防止生殖器官被食草动物侵害，同时不影响传粉者行为。由于低结实率常被认为是该科的一个特征，尤其是对于欺骗性物种而言，被兰花花序吸引的蚂蚁会保护生殖结构并增加授粉成功的概率。齿瓣石斛的花朵由红带袖蝶（蛱蝶科）和细纹袖蝶（弄蝶科）传粉。
