Orchid fruits are in the form of a capsule or a pod, carrying thousands and thousands of dust-like seeds. Fruits are of different shapes and sizes, from a minute globose or berry like capsule to a long cylindrical pod. Fruits attain erect, sub-erect or pendulous arrangement. In some genera the pedicel elongates considerably while the fruit matures. On maturing, fruits burst open laterally by 3 or 6 slits and the minuscule sized seeds get dispersed with the help of air flow.
Many orchid fruits have interesting characteristics to observe and study. Some attain shapes that of sausages or are three-angled; in a few cases the outer surface of the capsule or pod is pubescent (with soft hairs); they are either 3 or 6 ribbed; some are with a unique beak at its apex; in a few genera the fruits mature rapidly while in others it take months; its colour varying from green to brown or brick red, even with unique purple spots and patterns.
Post 10 – 13/September/2020