Scientific poster P4-003/T-10 abstract is included in the programme book, along with conference paper in the proceedings.
Full research article is in production.
Article submitted.
Catasetum inflorescences bear either female or male flowers, a condition known as sexual dimorphism. The male flowers are usually colourful and include a wonderful pollinarium ejection mechanism. Protruding from the rostellum is a pair of antennae, or 'fangs', which when stimulated eject the pollinarium projectile with great force.
The anther cap covers the pollinarium initially. The pollinarium itself includes an extremely adhesive viscidium disc, to stick to the back of the pollinator. The viscidium is attached to a short stipe, upon which two pollinia are located. When ejected, the viscidium is foremost to make contact with the bee's back and the pollinia are positioned perfectly for pollination when a female flower is visited.
Five short videos show this pollinarium ejection mechanism for a Catasetum Elizabeth Wills, which has a fragrance of spearmint and a hint of spice. Videos A and E show the pollinarium being catapulted from the flower. Video B shows a viscidium disc getting attached to the labellum. In video C the pollinarium is captured, and the anther cap removed to reveal the pollinia. Videos D and E are slow motion captures. Video D is a side view to show better the external locations of the structures ejected.The two slow motion captures, videos D and E from part 1, are presented further slowed down (x0.1) in part 2. These sequences indicate that the adhesive viscidium disc is the forward most part of the pollinarium projectile, and will be the first part to make contact with the pollinator.
RHS Silver Medal at inaugural RHS Chatsworth
Guinness World Record Holder for the Most blooms on an orchid plant (sympodial) with a total of 1684 blooms on my Epipactis gigantea 'Trefor' orchid (verified 09 June 2018, Fleet (UK))
1. Orchid Society of Great Britain AGM June 2024 - Twickenham, UK
Meeson S. Flowering orchids in Taiwan during the WOC 2024.
1. 23rd World Orchid Conference 2024 - Tainan, Taiwan
Meeson S, T-10 Preliminary findings from UV induced visible fluorescence imaging of orchids.
1. Meeson S. Preliminary findings from ultraviolet induced visible fluorescence imaging of orchids. In: Proceedings of the 23rd World Orchid Conference, 25/28 February 2024, Taiwan. Wang Y-T, Chang Y-C.A, Eds. (Tainan City, Taiwan: Taiwan Orchids Growers Association (TOGA). ISBN: 978-626-97173-1-6) 2024;361-364.
1. Meeson S. P4-003/T-10 Preliminary findings from ultraviolet induced visible fluorescence imaging of orchids. In: 2024 Orchid Together Program Book, 25/28 February 2024, Taiwan. (Tainan City, Taiwan: Taiwan Orchids Growers Association (TOGA)) 2024;173. (abstract).
1. Exhibiting at RHS Chatsworth June 2017. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2017; 66(3):216-218. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
2. International News - Displays at RHS Chatsworth Show continue orchid tradition. J. Stowe (Ed.), H. Millner, S. Meeson. Orchid Rev 2017;125(1319):137. ISSN 0030-4476
3. Experience with orchid kokedama. Part 1: Development and early experience. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2018; 67(1):44-46. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
4. 23rd Orchid Festival, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. Dr. Stuart Meeson, with forward by Galina Boyse. OSGBJ 2018; 67(2):100-105. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
5. Experiments with Pleione. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2018; 67(3):196-199. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
6. RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2018; 67(3):219-224. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
7. International News - Guinness World Record Plant. S. Meeson Orchid Rev 2018;126(1324):198. ISSN 0030-4476
8. Epipactis Expansion. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2019; 68(1):in press. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
9. The 26th Kew Orchid Festival. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2022; 71(2):132-139. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
10. Kew Orchid Festival featuring Cameroon. Dr. Stuart Meeson. British Orchid Council Newsletter April 2023
11. Scientific programme highlights of the 23rd World Orchid Conference. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2024; 73(3):221-223. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
12. Flowering orchids in Taiwan during the World Orchid Conference 2024. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2024; 73(3):242-245. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
13. 30th Kew Orchid Festival featuring China. Dr. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2026; 75(2):in press. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
1. Members' plants - Epipactis gigantea. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2014; 63(3):177. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
2. RHS Orchid Awards. Stuart Meeson - Grower's Advice Masdevallia mendozae 'Mullus'. Orchid Rev 2015;123(1310): 122-123. ISSN 0030-4476
3. Members' plants - Bulbophyllum pecten-veneris. Stuart Meeson. OSGBJ 2015; 64(3):176-177. Orchid Society of Great Britain ISSN 0306-2996.
4. RHS Orchid Awards. Stuart Meeson - Grower's Advice Epipactis gigantea 'Trefor'. Orchid Rev 2015;123(1312): 285-286. ISSN 0030-4476
5. RHS Orchid Awards. Stuart Meeson - Grower's Advice Masdevallia mendozae 'Mullus'. Orchid Rev 2017;125(1318): 119-120. ISSN 0030-4476
6. RHS Orchid Awards. Stuart Meeson - Grower's Advice Platystele orectoglossa 'Trevor and Mary'. Orchid Rev 2019;127(1326): 116-118. ISSN 0030-4476
7. RHS Orchid Awards. Stuart Meeson - Grower's Advice Masdevallia Prince Charming 'Trevor'. Orchid Rev 2022;130(1338): 52-53. ISSN 0030-4476
8. RHS Orchid Awards. Stuart Meeson - Grower's Advice Pleione grandiflora 'Mary'. Orchid Rev 2022;130(1338): 53-55. ISSN 0030-4476
9. Meeson S. Sleepy gnome is hand painted. Amateur Gardening 2023 (AMG400); (13):57. London (UK): Future Publishing Ltd, 01 April 2023 (Photo of the week; edited)
10. Meeson S. Show and grow. The Garden 2024; 149(9):27. Peterborough (UK): RHS Media, September 2024
Presentation for Best Hybrid Orchid (Pleione Tongariro) at RHS London Orchid Show 2018 with James Alexander-Sinclair on the OSGB stand
(Official photograph provided courtesy of the RHS)
Presentation for Best Hybrid Orchid (Masdevallia Prince Charming) at RHS Wisley Orchid Show 2022 with Emma Allen, Garden Manager RHS Wisley (Formal & Decorative display).
(Professional photograph provided courtesy of Johan Hermans)
RHS Banksian Medal for 3x First, 3x Second, 3x Third Prize.
BBC Radio 4 : Natural Histories - Orchids (11 Sep 2018)
Oncidium Pont Marquet (2022)
Epipactis gigantea 'Trefor' (2020)
Stuart Meeson
Last revised 27th February 2026