Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Japan 606-8502.
Am J Bot. 1999 Jan;86(1):56-61.
Lowiaceae, a family of the Zingiberales, comprise 11 species in the single genus Orchidantha. Here we present the first report on the pollination of Lowiaceae and describe a new system of dung-beetle pollination from Sarawak, Borneo. Orchidantha inouei has a zygomorphic flower located just above the ground. Observations revealed that the plant is visited frequently and is pollinated by scarabaeid dung beetles, mainly members of the genus Onthophagus. All four species of Onthophagus collected on O. inouei have also been caught using traps baited with dung or carrion in Borneo. Onthophagus was presumably attracted to the dung-like odor of the flower. Pollination of O. inouei is different from other examples of beetle pollination in that its flower provides neither reward nor protected space. Dung beetles are excellent at following a particular dung scent. Orchidantha is the only genus that includes species lacking floral nectar. It is interesting that this deception pollination using dung beetles was found in Zingiberales, in which all known species have mutual and specialized relationships with their long-distance, but costly, pollinators-bees, birds, and bats.
低地姜科是姜目下的一个科，包含一个单种属——Orchidantha，共 11 个种。本文首次报道了低地姜科的传粉生物学，并描述了来自婆罗洲沙捞越的一种新型蜣螂传粉系统。地姜属植物 Orchidantha inouei 的花为左右对称，位于地面以上。观察发现，该植物常被访花，其传粉者为金龟子科蜣螂，主要是粪金龟属 Onthophagus 的成员。在 O. inouei 上采集到的 4 种 Onthophagus 也在婆罗洲的粪或腐肉诱捕器中被捕获。Onthophagus 可能是被花类似粪便的气味所吸引。O. inouei 的传粉不同于其他甲虫传粉的例子，因为它的花既不提供奖励，也没有提供保护空间。蜣螂非常善于追踪特定的粪便气味。Orchidantha 是唯一包括缺乏花蜜的物种的属。有趣的是，这种使用蜣螂的欺骗性传粉在姜目中被发现，在姜目中，所有已知的物种都与它们的远距离但代价高昂的传粉媒介——蜜蜂、鸟类和蝙蝠——有着互惠和专门的关系。
