Moebius wrote:...I am guessing that this particular flower is a male?....
K
Actually I think that flowers are bisexual, containing male and female parts. The seeds are microscopically small, lacking endosperm (food reserves) in the overall majority of the species. Certain epiphytic orchids of the tropical rain forest produce the world's smallest seeds weighing only one 35 millionths of an ounce (1/35,000,000) or 0.81 micrograms. They are dispersed into the air like minute dust particles or single-celled spores, eventually coming to rest in the upper canopy of rain forest trees. The seeds of some species are no larger than fungal spores and occur in a loose cellular sheath. Since the seeds have no endosperm and underdeveloped embryos, there are practically no food reserves. In order to germinate under natural conditions, they must establish a symbiotic relationship with a compatible mycorrhizal fungus. During early stages of development, the fungus supplies critical nutrients to the orchid seedling. Later the orchid may become fully independent, or it may retain its mycorrizal relationship throughout its life.
But there are exceptions such as Disa cardinalis, whose seeds may grow to a length of 1.1 mm. Seeds of Vanilla may weigh 20 times or more that of other orchids. Vanilla planifolia (and two other Vanilla species less commonly grown), is the only orchid which is grown for any other use besides its beauty (with a few minor exceptions). Vanilla was first cultivated in Central America where it was used, like today, as a flavoring. Vanilla cultivation was introduced to other parts of the world in the 1800s and it is now an important crop in much of the tropics. Madagascar is the leading producer, producing in 2005, 3 million metric tons (of a world total of 7.3 million metric tons).
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest user of vanilla. Besides its use as a flavoring, it is also used in fragrances and perfumes.
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