Using floral form to generate hypotheses regarding pollination ecology was most famously advanced by Darwin, who predicted in 1862 that the long-spurred
Angraecum sesquipedale orchid would be visited by a similarly long-tongued moth, a hypothesis proven correct 130 y later (Wasserthal, 1997).
and Phylica nitida Ambrevade pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan (note also that Crotalaria uncinella is 'abrevade marron') Andeze Trema orientalis Bekabare identity unclear: Chaudenson says a 'purslane-type plant' but then lists Thrianthema camilli Bred mafane Acmella oleracea, common leafy green with 'hot' flavour Cambarre variety of yam with purple interior (Dioscorea alata) Faham orchid
Angraecum Fanjan, tree ferns Cyathea spp.
'Good heavens what insect can suck it'--Charles Darwin,
Angraecum sesquipedale and Xanthopan morganii praedicta .
Glomeremus orchidophilus - a raspy cricket - made the top 10 list for its distinction of being the only pollinator of the rare and endangered orchid
Angraecum cadetii on RAeunion in the Mascarene Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
A comparable and frequently cited, long-proboscid taxon--but in the Lepidoptera--is the hawk moth Xanthopan morgani praedicta Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 from Madagascar (proboscis length about 25 cm), which pollinates the long-spurred Madagascan star orchid
Angraecum sesquipedale Thou.
The star orchid of Madagascar,
Angraecum sesquipedale Thou., is pollinated by a single hawkmoth, Xanthopan morganii predicta Walker (Wasserthal, 1997; Nilsson, 1988) whose existence was famously predicted by Darwin (1862).
They wanted to know how an orchid called
Angraecum cadetii becomes pollinated, so they aimed their night-vision cameras at the flowers and hit the "record" button.
In January 1862, he received some flowers of
Angraecum sesquipedale (the Madagascar star orchid or Darwin's orchid), a native of Madagascar.