The male thynnine wasp's extreme sexual enthusiasm is crucial to reproduction of hammer orchids in the wild. Hammer orchids have co-evolved to produce odors identical to those manufactured by female thynnine wasps. The male wasp's superb sensitivity to the scent of his female mate is the basis for the hammer orchid's deceit--in effect, orchids exploit the male insect's highly adaptive sense of smell for their own propogation. While pollinating orchids is a waste of time, and thus a maladaptive activity for a wasp, his mistake comes about because he must react quickly whenever he senses a possible mate nearby. Alcock suggests that, "for insects, he who hesitates is lost, although perhaps it would be better to say that he who hesitates often loses a chance to pass on his genes." This book abounds with clever explanations for how these exceptionally complex flowers came to be shaped as they are. The reader can explore many aspects of orchid biology and history ranging from how some species avoid inbreeding, to the origins of orchids from an ancestor that belonged to the asparagus family. Examining each component of an orchid's flower, Alcock explains how the various parts work together to produce the plant's minute offspring. Each element of an orchid, as quirky as it may seem, is biologically significant, bearing the imprint of natural selection. Readers can share in the delight that Darwin and all other orchid enthusiasts have felt in making sense of even the smallest of details of these most wonderful plants.

About the Author
Dr. Alcock's research deals with the evolution of diversity in insect mating systems. He studies selected species of desert insects in Arizona and Western Australia, in an attempt to document the variety of male mate-locating techniques in various bees, wasps, butterflies, dragonflies, and other insects. The goal of his research is to test hypotheses on the adaptive value of the different ways in which males find mating partners.

Reviews
An Enthusiasm for Orchids: Sex and Deception in Plant Evolution is ... an interesting book, [that] can provide good examples of plant adaptations which are desperately needed in these sort of classrooms which tend to focus more often on animal examples. * Erik Rothacker, Plant Science Bulletin Vol 53(1) 2007 *
The book is easy to read and has many beautiful illustrations. * Sebsebe Demissew, Nature *
For an overview of the concepts of adaption and maladaption, a brief history of evolution in general, and a good look at the hotsots, biodiversity and conservation of orchids in southwestern Australia in particular, this is the book to read. * Sebsebe Demissew, Nature *
...presents complex floral characters in an understandable and attractive way. For an overview of the concepts of adaptation and maladaptation, a brief history of evolution in general, and a good look at the orchids in southwestern Australia in particular, this is the book to read. Nature, Vol. 442



Book Information
ISBN 9780195182743
Author John Alcock
Format Hardback
Page Count 316
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 734g
Dimensions(mm) 225mm * 165mm * 22mm