Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species" in 1859. Three years later, he followed this with: "On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects". ---News to me! Amazing how one can go through life and not know these things. I'm off to find a copy.
If you do a search for Angreacum sesquipedale video you can see a large moth pollinating a flower. Darwin predicted this moths existence from the long nectary on the flowers of this orchid. This is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMVN1EWxfAU Shaun
I have never popped into the orchid forum before, but togatas catchy thread..." Did you know", kinda drew me in! Absolutely fascinating clip... thank you arcticshaun. Darwin was one truly amazing man, what a shame he never lived to see the moth himself.
Yeah, that video is amazing in all its elements: the flower, the moth, and the patience of the cameraman!
Wow. Togata: consider that Darwin spent a large chunk of time off the Galapagos. It's not too far-fetched that he ended up on the mainland of Ecuador as well. I can personally attest to the abundance of orchids in the coastal forests - maybe he was able to watch the pollination process here and then extrapolate to Britain?
