Pollination and floral fragrance of the clamshell orchid, Prosthechea cochleata (Orchidaceae)

Prosthechea cochleata, the clamshell orchid, is a native orchid in southern Florida. The flowers were previously reported to have no fragrance and were thought to not need a pollinator for seed capsule production. The floral fragrance of the clamshell orchid was sampled on greenhouse grown specimens at the University of Florida in Alachua Co., Florida and on plants growing in the wild at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Collier Co., Florida. Results from GC/MS analysis indicated that the flower does in fact produce a fragrance, with higher fragrance being emitted in the morning and early afternoon. Prosthechea cochleata plants also had flowers either exposed or covered using exclusion netting to prevent any insect interaction. The flowers that were covered with the netting produced fewer seed capsules than those that were uncovered.