Beauty of Orchid Flowers Are Not Adequate to Lure Indian Biologists

Orchids are always receiving a special attention among biologists globally, owing to their stunning colours, peculiar shapes, unique floral architecture and significantly their mystical deceptive pollination. Nearly, one-third of the orchids are achieving pollination through deceptive mechanisms. Throughout the world, biologists are working towards the understanding of deceptive pollination in various dimensions. Though India is holding more than 1200 reported orchid species, the deceptive pollination studies on Indian orchid species are very meagre. Our meta-analysis and field visits clearly revealed that the deceptive pollination is present in the Indian orchids. The genera level comparison on deceptive pollination between India and other parts of the world indicates that more number of Indian orchid genera holds the generalized food deception, brood-site imitation and sexual deception mechanisms. Since many orchid species are under threat, the studies related to deceptive pollination are vital to develop better conservation strategies.