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This literature review aims to synthesise existing knowledge on research on pollination of orchid species in Guatemala. Orchids, known for their diverse and specialised interactions with pollinators, play a key role in the ecosystems of this Central American country. As a base for our research, we have used the orchid checklist published in 2018 where more than 1200 taxa have been listed. Then we conducted a systematic search of academic databases, including, but not limited to PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and relevant botanical databases. From 1231 orchid species reported to occur in Guatemala and classified in 221 genera, we have found data on pollination of only 98 taxa, classified in 71 genera. Through an exhaustive survey of the relevant scientific literature, this review intends to provide a comprehensive summary of the available data, highlighting gaps in current knowledge and suggesting directions for future research. Research on pollination in tropical orchids presents a formidable challenge due to the immense diversity of species, the intricacies of pollination mechanisms, the elusive nature of pollinators and the susceptibility of these ecosystems to environmental changes. Despite these challenges, the importance of unravelling these mysteries is underscored by the critical role orchids play in tropical ecosystems and their potential implications for conservation and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neotropical genus Maxillaria Ruiz & Pav. belongs to one of the most diverse and species-rich groups of orchids. Several of its representatives are popular, horticultural plants with large and showy flowers, often nicely fragranced. It is not uncommon that some distinctly colored individuals are introduced to the commercial market under names of similar, more or less related species, as informal varieties or color forms, largely causing confusion. While investigating the diversity of Maxillaria in Ecuador, we have encountered plants that were commercially referred to as M. sanderiana xanthina. In the course of conducted morphological and micromorphological analyses, we concluded that it is a new, separate species and hereby, we describe it as M. anacatalinaportillae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nervilia is an orchid genus of approximately 80 ephemeral taxa that are widely distributed throughout the subtropical and tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and Oceania. Scientific information and research materials gathered from Bali are scarce. While trekking around Bali, we encountered a few representatives of this taxon. This led to further investigation of the genus and its occurrence in Bali, which is summarized in this article. New records of N. concolor and N. punctata from Central Bali have enriched previously known sites, and as species that appear ephemeral often go unnoticed this is a valuable contribution to the understanding of the geographic distribution of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral morphological adaptations and composition of secretions aim to ensure reproductive success. Maxillariella is part of the largest subtribe of Orchidaceae, and Maxillariella spp. are important components of the orchid flora of the Neotropics. The aim of this paper was to provide a detailed study of the reproductive biology of three morphologically and geographically distinct species: M. sanguinea , M. variabilis and M. vulcanica. For many years, species in this group were considered rewardless, but several studies have revealed that lips of some species may secrete resins. However, most published research has mainly focused on investigating either micromorphology (SEM, TEM, histochemistry) or fragrance composition (GC–MS). In this study, we make the first attempt to investigate Maxillariella flowers in a more comparative manner by combining both aspects. In all investigated species we reported the presence of resins with lipids, sugars and/or proteins, suggesting a potential role as a food reward. Scant quantities of residues indicate that they are produced periodically in small quantities. Chemical analysis revealed significant differences between species, however, the presence of some compounds was constant. Cycloartenal and cycloartenol (main ingredients of resin and wax-like material in some Maxillariinae) were not been found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neotropical genus Maxillaria Ruiz & Pav. belongs to one of the most diverse and species-rich groups of orchids. Several of its representatives are popular, horticultural plants with large and showy flowers, often nicely fragranced. It is not uncommon that some distinctly colored individuals are introduced to the commercial market under names of similar, more or less related species, as informal varieties or color forms, largely causing confusion. While investigating the diversity of Maxillaria in Ecuador, we have encountered plants that were commercially referred to as M.sanderianaxanthina . In the course of conducted morphological and micromorphological analyses, we concluded that it is a new, separate species and hereby, we describe it as M.anacatalinaportillae ., (Monika M. Lipińska, Natalia Olędrzyńska, Alex Portilla, Dorota Łuszczek, Aidar A. Sumbembayev, Dariusz L. Szlachetko.)