Editing Column (botany) (section)

== Orchidaceae ==
[[Image:VanillaFlowerLongitudinalSection-en.png|thumb|right|400px|{{center|Longitudinal view of a vanilla flower, showing the column }}]]
The stigma sits at the apex of the column in the front but is pointing downwards after '''[[resupination]]''' (the rotation by 180 degrees before unfolding of the flower).{{cn|date=February 2023}}

This stigma has the form of a small bowl, the '''clinandrium''', a viscous surface embedding the (generally) single anther. On top of it all is the '''anther cap'''. Sometimes there is a small extension or little beak to the median stigma lobe, called '''[[rostellum]]'''.{{cn|date=February 2023}}

'''Column wings''' may project laterally from the stigma. The '''column foot''' is formed by the attachment of the [[Labellum (botany)|lip]] to the basal protruding part of the column. One speaks of a '''mentum''' (chin) if the lateral [[sepal]]s are also basally adnate (which are attached to the foot of the column).

The column both releases [[pollen]] and also receives it (from another individual) for fertilization. In the family Orchidaceae, unlike almost all other [[flowering plant]]s, the single male anther at the tip of the ''column'' produces [[pollen]] that is not free and powdery but held in waxy masses of two, four or six pellets called '''''[[pollinium|pollinia]]'''''. The transfer of ''pollinia'' from one flower to another, though highly efficient, is often reliant upon one particular species of [[arthropod]]s and it can be catastrophic for the population if its pollinator disappears from the community.