RESEARCH
Cypripedium
We have found that timing of pollination is critical to seed development. Some plants consistently are reluctant seed parents even though the flowers remain fresh and functional pollen donors for up to ten days. These plants cease to be receptive as little as two days after the flowers have opened. Other nearby plants are consistently fecund, their flowers remaining potential seed parents for up to 10 days. If pollination happens after a flower has abandoned its role as seed parent, pollen will germinate and pollen tube formation will commence, but capsule development will be aborted about two weeks later as seen in this illustration.