Pollination of the rare desert orchid Spiranthes infernalis

Like many other species in its genus, the rare desert orchid Spiranthes infernalis, has a highly resticted distribution and is threatened by anthropogneic extirpation.  Spiranthes infernalis is restricted to the oases of the Mojave Desert, and very little is known about its reproductive strategy.  We tested the importance of insect mediated pollinatiton to the reproductive success of S. infernalis through a series of observations and pollinator exclusion experiments.  We found that the reproductive success of S. infernalis is dependent on insect visitation, though unlike many of its cogenerics, pollination may be accomplished by a relatively broad suite of bees.