Odor-guided bee pollinators of two endangered winter/early spring blooming orchids, Cymbidium kanran and Cymbidium goeringii, in Japan

We detected the pollinators of two endangered orchid species, Cymbidium kanran and Cymbidium goeringii, in their natural habitats. Cymbidium kanran blooms in early winter and the fragrant nectarless flowers were exclusively visited and pollinated by workers of the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica). The pollination system seems deceptive and contrasts with the honeybee drone pollination system observed in Cymbidium floribundum. Cymbidium goeringii blooms in early spring, and the faintly fragrant, nectarless flowers were visited and pollinated by males of Anthophora plumipes villosula, suggesting that the labellar papillae of the orchid flowers may be a reward for the bees.