Re-evaluation of evolutionary processes in orchids. Didn’t Darwin explain it all? (original) (raw)

Early in the history of evolutionary biology, orchids had a prominent role in providing evidence for natural selection. The unusual pollination mechanisms attracted the attention of Darwin (1877) who had argued that orchids offer strong evidence for natural selection and for the advantages of cross pollination. Since then, much effort has been devoted to describing pollination mechanisms van der Cingel, 1995). These reports contribute to Darwin's arguments, although it is not often stated explicitly. Most agree that there is a link between orchid pollination systems and orchid diversity but the distinction between cause and effect is often not clear.