Pollination in Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.) Sw. Orchidaceae)

Mechanism and success of pollination is described in Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.) Sw., a highly priced ornamental orchid enlisted in Appendix II of CITES. The species was found strictly entomophilous and workers of 2 honey bee species (Apis cerana, A. mellifera) acted as effective pollinating agents. Insects carry the pollen packets (pollinia) on their back and during random visits to different flowers, deposit the same to stigma. Allogamy was the most prevalent pollination mode and successful pollination was recorded in 8.49 percent flowers.