Bee-orchids are now blooming on campus: the result of co-operation between Mike Hutchings of BIOLS and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The orchids are grown from seed germinated at Kew, as part of the Sainsbury Orchid Project, which aims to generate plants from suitable sources to re-establish native orchid populations in the field. Planted last year, several are now in flower and are already the subject of lustful, but ill-focused, advances by local bees.
The flower of the bee-orchid mimics the appearance of a female bee and also produces counterfeit bee sex pheromones. Male bees are attracted, attempt to copulate with the flower, and depart frustrated, but with a sticky package of pollen. So the orchids are fertilised by the fruitless mating attempts of the bees, a marvel of vegetable love. Mixed mating is best but, if the right sort of bee fails to turn up, the orchid can fertilise itself.
The campus is part of a downland landscape designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and orchids are an important but often endangered part of the natural flora. Two other orchid species are also resident on campus: white helleborines and pyramidal orchids. The bee-orchids, Mike hopes, will be the first introduction of many. Some will be grown from seed, but he also hopes to be able to salvage plants from habitats that are damaged or destroyed.
