Citation
Germination and seedling establishment in orchids: A complex of requirements
TL;DR
Orchid seeds are among smallest in nature - lack endosperm
This review explains the extreme germination strategy of orchids - the smallest seeds in nature, lacking endosperm and requiring mycorrhizal fungi partners to germinate. Orchids produce millions of dust-like seeds, hoping a few land in exactly the right spot.
This represents the opposite of the large-seed strategy (acorns, coconuts) and illustrates the spectrum of germination strategies: high quantity/low resource vs. low quantity/high resource. Both can succeed in the right environments.
Key Findings from Rasmussen et al. (2015)
- Orchid seeds are among smallest in nature - lack endosperm
- Require specific mycorrhizal fungi for germination and early development
- Extreme quantity strategy - millions of seeds, few successful
- Must land in exact right conditions for germination