How does the floral pattern of Mediterranean orchid Ophrys guarantee cross pollination?
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Solution
Cross-pollination in Mediterranean orchid Ophrys:
The Mediterranean orchid Ophrys flower is almost identical to a bee's female structure.
Bees mistake it for a female bee and perform copulation. The flower is pollinated in this fashion, which is known as pseudocopulation.
When the male wasp sees it, he is attracted to it and begins copulating with it. When it copulates, pollen grains from several species lands on the flower with the male wasp, pollinating it and completing cross-fertilization.
