5种沉水植物无性繁殖和定居能力的比较研究

 竹叶眼子菜(Potamogeton malaianus)、微齿眼子菜(Potamogeton maackianus)、苦草(Vallisneria spiralis)、穗花狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum)、黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)是长江中下游湖泊主要的沉水植物。在栽培条件下,它们的无性繁殖速率(单位时间内新增个体数)大小顺序为黑藻>微齿眼子菜>竹叶眼子菜>苦草>穗花狐尾藻。同时采用抛掷实验的方法观察研究了这5种沉水植物及其无性繁殖体的存活和生根情况;完整植株存活率为黑藻>穗花狐尾藻>微齿眼子菜>竹叶眼子菜>苦草,无性繁殖体部分存活率为黑藻>苦草>穗花狐尾藻>微齿眼子菜>竹叶眼子菜。生根能力和其存活时间长短相关,而且生根能力与存活率大小基本一致。在实验中,只有穗花狐尾藻的断枝存活率和生根能力存在差异,故无性繁殖体生根能力为黑藻>苦草>微齿眼子菜>竹叶眼子菜>穗花狐尾藻。     

泥沙埋深对苦草和微齿眼子菜及两物种混合分解的影响

为探讨泥沙淤积对水生植物分解的影响,研究了沉水植物苦草(Vallisneria natans)、微齿眼子菜(Pota-mogeton maackianus)及两物种混合在底泥中不同埋深(0 和5 cm)的分解速率和养分动态,实验周期为117d。结果显示:(1)在0和5 cm埋深处理下,苦草、微齿眼子菜及两物种混合的分解速率均表现为苦草最快,微齿眼子菜最慢,物种混合介于两单种之间。与0 cm处理相比,在5 cm埋深处理下苦草、微齿眼子菜及两物种混合的分解速率显著降低(P0.05)。苦草在0和5 cm埋深处理下分解35天后干重剩余率分别为0和43.51%、在5 cm处理下分解82d后干重剩余率为0。微齿眼子菜和两物种混合在5 cm埋深处理下分解117d后的干重剩余率分别提高了31.09%和37.44%。(2)与0 cm处理相比,5 cm埋深处理显著抑制苦草、微齿眼子菜及两物种混合的N、P释放。苦草在0和 5 cm埋深处理下分解35天后N剩余率分别为0和31.28%、P剩余率分别为0和24.45%。在5 cm埋深处理下分解117天后微齿眼子菜N和P剩余率分别提高了19.45%和14.73%、两物种混合N、P剩余率分别提高了41.57%和22.82%。(3)两物种混合在0和5 cm埋深处理下,其分解速率均表现为加和效应,但N、P元素释放在0 cm处理下分别表现为协同效应和加和效应,在5 cm埋深处理下均表现为拮抗效应。(4)随着分解的进行,5 cm埋深处理下的苦草和微齿眼子菜的微生物呼吸速率均显著降低,物种混合的微生物生物量始终低于0 cm处理。这些结果表明泥沙埋深显著降低了苦草、微齿眼子菜及两物种混合的分解速率和N、P元素释放,物种混合的N、P元素释放在分解后期均因沉积作用而产生了拮抗效应。此外,泥沙埋深对分解的抑制作用与微生物呼吸及生物量降低有密切的关系。研究结果可为认识水生植物分解对沉积作用的响应机制提供资料,并为了解水生植物分解对底质营养动态的影响提供参考。     

溶氧、pH及其他理化因子对蓖齿眼子菜种子萌发的影响

研究了溶氧、pH、光强、冷处理、温度、营养以及激素处理等条件对蓖齿眼子菜种子萌发的影响。结果表明:溶氧对种子的最终萌发率有影响,缺氧条件下比正常条件和氧饱和条件下的萌发率高,但缺氧条件下萌发的幼苗为白化苗,不能正常生长发育;光照和pH对种子萌发的影响不显著。4℃冷处理能够使种子萌发时间提前和提高种子的萌发率;在15—27℃之间,提高温度能够加快种子的萌发速度,但温度过高则萌发率降低,在15℃、20℃和27℃下的最终萌发率分别为90.0%、90.0%和56.7%;不同的营养水平对种子萌发影响不显著。生长素NAA(0.1—5.0mg/L)、细胞分裂素6-BA(0.1—5.0mg/L)、赤霉素GA3(0.1—5.0 mg/L)不能加快蓖齿眼子菜种子萌发的速度和提高萌发率。     

水体无机碳条件对常见沉水植物生长和生理的影响

为了解水华引起的水体无机碳变化对沉水植物生长的影响,对8种沉水植物:金鱼藻、穗花狐尾藻、篦齿眼子菜、光叶眼子菜、微齿眼子菜、伊乐藻、菹草和黑藻在不同无机碳浓度下的生物量、株高、叶绿素以及光合和呼吸速率进行了比较研究.结果表明8种沉水植物均能利用HCO3-作为光合无机碳源,在1.5 mmoL/L外源HCO3-浓度下能促进金鱼藻、菹草和伊乐藻的生长,提高其光合速率;在2.5 mmol/L外源HCO3-浓度下能促进狐尾藻、光叶眼子菜、黑藻、微齿眼子菜和蓖齿眼子菜的生长,提高其光合速率.在CO32-为优势碳源时,8种沉水植物表现出不同的适应性,发现微齿眼子菜、篦齿眼子菜和黑藻在整个实验范围内生长未受抑制,且在不同浓度下表现生长和光合速率的促进,说明这三种沉水植物对[HCO3-]/[CO32-]比值和pH具有较广适应范围.而当CO32-成为优势碳源时,金鱼藻和伊乐藻的生长受到抑制,狐尾藻、菹草和光叶眼子菜均死亡,表明[HCO3-]/[CO32-]比值和pH是这5种沉水植物生长的重要限制因子.     

五种沉水植物对富营养化水体的净化效果

为达到净化水质的目的,采用移栽沉水植物控制富营养化水体中营养盐含量和浮游藻类生物量。本研究在夏季藻类密度较高的富营养化水体中移栽5种长江中下游流域常见沉水植物,比较不同沉水植物去除营养盐和控制藻类总量的能力。研究结果:5种沉水植物对水体总氮含量去除率的大小顺序为:竹叶眼子菜>黑藻>苦草>微齿眼子菜>菹草,对总磷去除率大小顺序为:竹叶眼子菜>黑藻>微齿眼子菜>苦草>菹草;竹叶眼子菜控制水体中藻类总量的效果最佳,苦草、微齿眼子菜及菹草次之,黑藻对水体总磷和浮游植物的去除效果均极显著(p≤0.01),而对总氮含量的作用影响不明显(p=0.209)。综合营养盐吸收作用和藻类控制效果来看,竹叶眼子菜在整个实验过程中生长状态良好并达到较为稳定的净化作用,是夏季治理浅型富营养化静水水体的理想物种之一。     

东太湖水生植物群落结构的演变及其沼泽化

2002年东太湖水生植被调查结果表明,沉水植被和浮叶植被是该湖水生植被的主要生态类型,分布面积分别占全湖总面积73.6%和18.3%。东太湖水生植被主要有9个群丛,其中沉水植被主要的5个群丛是伊乐藻(外来种)群丛、金鱼藻群丛、伊乐藻 微齿眼子菜群丛、菜-伊乐藻 微齿眼子菜群丛、苦草 竹叶眼子菜 黑藻群丛,其分布面积分别占东太湖植被总面积的30.7%、17.2%、16.7%、15.8%、9.3%。随着对东太湖的不断改造和资源的不断利用,20世纪60年代东太湖人工种植沼泽植被菰群丛,20世纪80年代初环湖水陆交错带被围垦而芦苇群丛消失,微齿眼子菜替代竹叶眼子菜而占据东太湖40%的水面。近10a来,东太湖网围养蟹迅速发展,占全湖总植被面积25.6%的沼泽植物——菰群丛及其占40%的微齿眼子菜群丛被清除,外来种伊乐藻和无根植物金鱼藻分布面积达90%的湖区。东太湖水生植被由20世纪50年代的原生演替到现在的次生演替,群落演变激烈,同时东太湖沼泽化进程加剧。     

春季不同程度低水位对四种沉水植物生理的影响

为了解不同沉水植物对春季低水位的生理响应, 在2014年春季开展为期3个月的控制实验, 研究不同程度的春季低水位, 包括极低水位(水深18 cm)、较低水位(36 cm)和低水位(54 cm)对3种乡土沉水植物微齿眼子菜、穗花狐尾藻和菹草的最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)、总叶绿素含量和可溶性糖含量的影响, 并与外来种伊乐藻作对比。结果显示, 随着水位的降低, 微齿眼子菜、菹草和伊乐藻Fv/Fm显著升高, 而穗花狐尾藻的Fv/Fm无显著变化; 在3种水位下伊乐藻的Fv/Fm都明显高于其他3种植物。微齿眼子菜和菹草总叶绿素含量也随着水位降低有升高趋势, 而穗花狐尾藻和伊乐藻的总叶绿素含量随水位没有显著变化。所有水位下微齿眼子菜总叶绿素含量最高, 穗花狐尾藻最低, 菹草只在低水位下显著低于伊乐藻。微齿眼子菜、菹草和伊乐藻的可溶性糖含量随着水位的降低而下降, 穗花狐尾藻的可溶性糖含量随着水位的降低有升高趋势。在低水位和较低水位下穗花狐尾藻和菹草的可溶性糖含量分别是所有植物中的最小和最大, 但在极低水位下4种沉水植物的可溶性糖含量无明显差异。以上结果表明, 春季极低水位对微齿眼子菜、伊乐藻和菹草不产生胁迫,但对穗花狐尾藻产生了胁迫; 伊乐藻潜在光合能力强于乡土种, 在春季浅水区具备较强的入侵性。     

微齿眼子菜瘦果萌发特性的初步研究

微齿眼子菜(Potamogetonmaackianus A.Benn)是眼子菜科一种多年生的沉水植物1,是长江中下游草型湖泊的优势种和常见种,在水体生态系统及渔业活动中有重要作用2.       

梁子湖水——陆交错区水生植物群落生态学研究

对梁子湖水－陆交错区中植物群落的的组成、结构、生长型和生物量进行了测定,结果表明交错区内共分布有9种植物群落：1）微齿眼子菜（Potamogeton maackianus)群落;2）狐尾藻（Myriophyllum spicatum)＋苦草（Vallis-neria natans)＋金鱼藻（Ceratophyllum denersum）群落;3）微齿眼子菜＋金鱼藻群落;4）金鱼藻＋狐尾藻＋微齿眼子菜群落;5）金鱼藻＋狐尾藻＋荇菜（Nymphyoides pettlatum)群落;6）水蓼（Polygonum hydropiper)＋菱（Trapa bipinosa）＋菰（Zizania latifolia)群落;7）菹草（Potamogeton crispus)群落;8）菰＋荇菜＋蓼群落;9）湿生植物(Helophyte）群落。主要植物群4落生物量：狐尾藻＋苦草＋金鱼藻群落2414g.m^-2。金鱼藻＋狐尾藻＋微齿眼子菜群落4379g.m^-2,微齿眼子菜＋金龟藻群落1486g.m^-2,微齿眼子菜群4落2805g.m^-2。交错区内主要植物群落生量的季节变化与群落内优势种的生长方式、人为活动的干扰以及个体生态特征密切相关。群落内优势物种的水平分布表现为均匀分布和群聚分布两种方式。     

洱海底泥特性对七种沉水植物生长的影响

为研究洱海底泥特性对沉水植物生长的影响,采用不同比例洱海底泥与湖岸土壤掺混形成五种基质,并分别移栽苦草、黑藻、微齿眼子菜、马来眼子菜、光叶眼子菜、穿叶眼子菜和狐尾藻,进行为期70d的室外生长实验,结果表明不同基质对几种植物的影响具种间差异。（1）在基质为50%深层底泥+50%湖岸土壤（碳、氮、磷含量分别为31.59、0.334和0.095 mg/g）时,苦草、马来眼子菜和光叶眼子菜的株高最大;基质为100%深层底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为37.88、0.803和0.149 mg/g）时,黑藻、微齿眼子菜、穿叶眼子菜和狐尾藻的株高最大;（2）基质为100%深层底泥时,苦草、黑藻、微齿眼子菜、马来眼子菜和光叶眼子菜生物量增加最多且相对生长速率最大;基质为100%浅层底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为77.37、5.691和0.136 mg/g）时,穿叶眼子菜生物量增加最多,相对生长速率最大;狐尾藻在基质为50%浅层底泥+50%深层底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为49.27、2.005和0.131 mg/g）时生物量增加最多,相对生长速率最大;（3）基质为100%湖岸土壤（碳、氮、磷含量分别为22.06、0.327和0.231 mg/g）时,7种沉水植物均生长缓慢,生物量增加较少。综上所述,中营养底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为31.59-49.27、0.334-2.005和0.095-0.131 mg/g）更适合沉水植物生长,底泥中过高或过低营养都不利于沉水植物生长。     

Evolutionary consequences of ecological factors: pollinator reliability predicts mating‐system traits of a perennial plant

The reproductive‐assurance hypothesis predicts that mating‐system traits will evolve towards increased autonomous self‐pollination in plant populations experiencing unreliable pollinator service. We tested this long‐standing hypothesis by assessing geographic covariation among pollinator reliability, outcrossing rates, heterozygosity and relevant floral traits across populations of Dalechampia scandens in Costa Rica. Mean outcrossing rates ranged from 0.16 to 0.49 across four populations, and covaried with the average rates of pollen arrival on stigmas, a measure of pollinator reliability. Across populations, genetically based differences in herkogamy (anther–stigma distance) were associated with variation in stigmatic pollen loads, outcrossing rates and heterozygosity. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that, when pollinators are unreliable, floral traits promoting autonomous selfing evolve as a mechanism of reproductive assurance. Extensive covariation between floral traits and mating system among closely related populations further suggests that floral traits influencing mating systems track variation in adaptive optima generated by variation in pollinator reliability.     

Breeding systems in Balsaminaceae in relation to pollen/ovule ratio,pollination syndromes,life history and climate zone

• Pollen/ovule (P/O) ratios are often used as proxy for breeding systems. Here, we investigate the relations between breeding systems and P/O ratios, pollination syndromes, life history and climate zone in Balsaminaceae.
• We conducted controlled breeding system experiments (autonomous and active self‐pollination and outcrossing tests) for 65 Balsaminaceae species, analysed pollen grain and ovule numbers and evaluated the results in combination with data on pollination syndrome, life history and climate zone on a phylogenetic basis.
• Based on fruit set, we assigned three breeding systems: autogamy, self‐compatibility and self‐incompatibility. Self‐pollination led to lower fruit set than outcrossing. We neither found significant P/O differences between breeding systems nor between pollination syndromes. However, the numbers of pollen grains and ovules per flower were significantly lower in autogamous species, but pollen grain and ovule numbers did not differ between most pollination syndromes. Finally, we found no relation between breeding system and climate zone, but a relation between climate zone and life history.
• In Balsaminaceae reproductive traits can change under resource or pollinator limitation, leading to the evolution of autogamy, but are evolutionary rather constant and not under strong selection pressure by pollinator guild and geographic range changes. Colonisation of temperate regions, however, is correlated with transitions towards annual life history. Pollen/ovule‐ratios, commonly accepted as good indicators of breeding system, have a low predictive value in Balsaminaceae. In the absence of experimental data on breeding system, additional floral traits (overall pollen grain and ovule number, traits of floral morphology) may be used as proxies.

     

Pollination biology of the sclerophyllous shrub Pultenaea villosa Willd. (Fabaceae) in southeast Queensland, Australia

The pollination biology of the common shrub Pultenaea villosa Willd. was examined in a subtropical dry sclerophyll forest in eastern Australia. We determined floral phenology and morphology, the timing of stigma receptivity and anther dehiscence, nectar availability, the plant breeding system, and flower visitors. The shrub's flowers are typical zygomorphic pea flowers with hidden floral rewards and reproductive structures. These flowers require special manipulation for insect access. A range of insects visited the flowers, although bees are predicted to be the principle pollinators based on their frequency on the flowers and their exclusive ability to operate the wing and keel petals to access the reproductive structures. Nectar and pollen are offered as rewards and were actively collected by bees. Nectar is offered to visitors in minute amounts at the base of the corolla. In Toohey Forest, P. villosa flowers in spring and is the most abundant floral resource in the understory of the forest at this time. The breeding system experiment revealed that P. villosa requires outcrossing for high levels of seed set and that the overlap of stigma receptivity and pollen dehiscence within the flower suggests the potential for self-incompatibility.     

Reproductive timetable for the tropical Vireya rhododendron,R. Macgregoriae

Summary The reproductive development of Rhododendron macgregoriae F.v.M., Section Vireya (Ericaceae) has been followed from 10 days before anthesis to the production of mature germinable seeds about 145 days after anthesis. The species is self-compatible but shows both protandry and physical separation of pollen from the receptive stigma. Pollen is mature and viable from shortly before anthesis until the corolla and attached anthers abscise some 9–12 days after the flowers open. Spontaneous dehiscence, however, occurs mostly in the first few days after opening. The stigma becomes receptive 6–7 days after anthesis, and nectar is produced at this time. Female gametophytes are not mature until about 10 days after anthesis. Fertilization occurs about 6–7 days after pollination, and although the endosperm commences development immediately, development of the embryo proper does not begin until some 40–45 days later. Pollinations made with fresh pollen between 5 and 14 days after anthesis were successful, but those made on dry stigmas in the first 4 days after anthesis, or on senescing pistils 21 days after anthesis, gave little or no seed set. In nature, autogamy is probably uncommon, the majority of pollinations are likely to be geitonogamous, but there is considerable potential for outcrossing.     

濒危植物凹叶厚朴的花部综合特征和繁育系统

为了解凹叶厚朴(Magnolia officinalis subsp.biloba)濒危的生殖生物学原因,通过野外观测,运用杂交指数、花粉-胚珠比、花粉活力和柱头可授性观测、人工授粉和套袋实验等方法,对凹叶厚朴种群的开花生物学、繁育系统进行了研究。结果表明:凹叶厚朴单花花期一般为4～5d,单花花期根据形态和散粉时间可分为4个时期:蕾期、初开期、盛开期和凋零期;种群于4—5月开花,一般开花历时30d左右,但不同地点、年份间有所差异;种群无开花高峰,单株平均开花数量为171.4～188.8朵,平均开花振幅为5～6朵·株-1·d-1;凹叶厚朴杂交指数为4,花粉胚珠比为5728.86,结合人工套袋和授粉实验结果可确定,繁育系统为异交,传粉过程需要传粉者;花粉活力较高(94%),且花粉活力可维持至散粉后的第6天。散粉后,柱头可授性显著下降,花粉高活力期与柱头可授期有5～6h的重叠;自然状况下结果率和单果出种百分率低,异株异花授粉可明显提高结果率和单果出种百分率,二者相对自然状况分别提高14.25%和43.66%。表明自然状态下传粉效率低、柱头最佳可授期短、同株自花授粉败育严重是其濒危的主要生殖生物学原因。     

Does self-pollination provide reproductive Assurance in Aquilegia Canadensis (Ranunculaceae)?

The ability to produce seeds when pollinators or potential mates are scarce is thought to be one of the main advantages of self-fertilization in flowering plants. However, whether autonomous selfing increases seed set in natural populations has seldom been tested, and even fewer studies have evaluated the advantage of selfing across a gradient of pollen availability. This study examines the fertility consequences of autonomous selfing in Aquilegia canadensis (Ranunculaceae), a short-lived, spring-flowering perennial typically found in small, patchy populations on rock outcrops. We used a pollinator exclusion experiment to confirm reports that A. canadensis has a well-developed capacity for autonomous selfing resulting from incomplete protogyny and close proximity of stigmas and anthers during dehiscence. Flowers excluded from pollinators set 87% as many seeds per carpel (X +/- 1 SE = 7.1 +/- 1.4 seeds) as hand-pollinated flowers (8.1 +/- 1.3 seeds), and seed production in unpollinated flowers correlated negatively with the distance between stigmas and anthers (r = -0.46). Autonomous selfing could be potentially valuable in providing reproductive assurance because only 2.7 +/- 0.5 pollen grains were deposited on each stigma before anther dehiscence, compared to 134.1 +/- 17.9 pollen grains by the end of anther dehiscence. However, prevention of autonomous selfing by anther removal before dehiscence did not decrease seed set, even for plants at low plant densities where outcross pollen may have been in short supply. Emasculated flowers set as many seeds per carpel (9.3 +/- 0.9) as intact flowers (8.4 +/- 1.1), indicating that sufficient cross pollen is deposited for full seed set. These results do not support the hypothesis that autonomous selfing by A. canadensis has been selected because it provides reproductive assurance.     

The effectiveness of some mechanisms of reproductive isolation in Arum maculatum and A. italicum (Araceae)

Mechanisms of reproductive isolation were studied in two species of Arum , A. italicum and A. maculatum , growing in England and the south of France. The study focused on three potential mechanisms for reproductive isolation: the effectiveness of dichogamy as a barrier to autogamy; the ability of self and outcrossed pollen to germinate on stigmas at different stages of anthesis and to effect pollination; and postzygotic barriers to selfing. Dichogamy was found to provide a very effective barrier to within-inflorescence selfing in these species, as no seeds were produced by spontaneous self-pollination (i.e. autogamy) in any population of either species. However, the study found that geitonogamy (cross-pollination between inflorescences of a same individual or clone) was possible, as genotypes frequently produced several inflorescences and stigmas were found to be receptive to pollen from before anthesis until their contraction at the end of the female phase of flowering. Hand pollination with self pollen from clone inflorescences produced as numerous and heavy seeds as outcross pollination. In addition, the germination and growth of geitonogamously produced seed was similar to that of outcrossed seed, suggesting that this potential postzygotic barrier is absent or weak. These findings suggest that geitonogamous seed production may be unrestricted by significant pre- or postzygotic barriers. The possible advantages of geitonogamy in Arum are discussed.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 323–328.     

Pollination ecology and breeding system of the very narrow coastal endemic Seseli farrenyi (Apiaceae). Effects of population fragmentation

The reproductive biology of Seseli farrenyi (Apiaceae), a very narrow endemic to Cape Creus (Catalonia, Spain), including flowering timing patterns, quantity and quality of pollination services (type and frequency of pollinators, pollen carryover, pollen deposition on stigmas and reproductive success measured as fruit set), and breeding system was studied. Given the decline of population size detected in the last twenty years, we also analyzed the effects of fragmentation on pollination mechanisms. Protandry along with strong synchrony of floral development within umbels and sequential inflorescence emission within individual stalks, produces sexual phase alternation that promotes a strong outcrossing despite its non-specific pollination system and its (at least partial) self-compatibility. This pronounced xenogamy is supported by results of the insect exclusion test, hand-pollination experiments, and high P/O ratio. S. farrenyi flowers received visits from at least 28 species of insects, including wasps, small bees, ants, flies, syrphid flies, beetles and stink bugs, with different pollen carry-overs. Heterospecific pollen on stigmas decreased notably during the season (50% to 2.5%), averaging 12%. In the small population the stigmatic pollen loads and seed set decreased, but there was no effect of pollinator visitation rates. It was more affected by the composition of pollinators and their efficiency. The wind had a considerable effect on the plant. Some conservation measures are proposed.     

Autonomous Self pollination under Dominant Flexistylous Outcorssing Mechanism in Alpinia galanga (Zingiberaceae)

Autonomous self pollination is considered to be a reproductive assurance mechanism for plants when facing extreme environments that scarce in pollinators, and it also has disadvantages like inbreeding depression and pollen/ovule discounting. In several genera of Zingiberaceae like Alpinia and Amomum, a specialized mechanism named flexistyly exists, precedent studies consider its significance as preventing unnecessary self pollination and sexual interference. However according to our field observation, if pollen grains on cataflexistylous (CATA) flowers remain on the anther when the style curves downwardly, potential exists that the stigma contacts the pollen, thus autonomous self pollination occurs. Here, we studied the breeding system of Alpinia galanga, the results show that (1) Alpinia galanga is self compatible in which inbreeding depression occurs to some degree; (2) The anaflexistylous (ANA) morph of Alpinia galanga allocates more resource into outcrossing than the CATA morph; (3) The P/O ratio of the ANA morph is significantly lower than that of the CATA morph, as Alpinia galanga has constant six ovules in each ovary, the significant difference in P/O value reflects the contrast in pollen production. This phenomenon may be interpreted as the ANA morph provides pollen exclusively for the CATA morph. But the CATA morph, despite delivers pollen to the ANA morph, also need its own pollen for potential autonomous self pollination. In summary, autonomous self pollination exists in Alpinia galanga, and while flexistyly functions to avoid unnecessary self pollination and sexual interference, it also provides advantages for delayed autonomous self pollination as a necessary reproductive assurance and preventing conflict among these three major features by controlling the time of autonomous self pollination. This peculiar mechanism in Alpinia galanga thoroughly demonstrates its adaptation to unfavorable surrounding during the evolutionary process.     

Studies in eupatorium (Compositae), III. Apparent wind pollination

Eupatorium is a large, chiefly American genus in which some species have deviated from the usual reproductive methods of insect pollination and outcrossing. Apomixis and autogamy are two reproductive specializations which have been reported previously. A third, anemophily, is suspected inE. solidaginifolium, E. solidaginoides, E. monanthum, and several other species. Our assumptions are based upon morphological modifications of the inflorescence, anther appendages, style branches, and pollen. Wind pollination in the Compositae has heretofore been known only in the tribe Anthemideae and the subtribe Ambrosinae of the Heliantheae; its occurrence inEupatorium is an independent evolutionary event. The occurrence of apomixis, autogamy, and anemophily in members ofEupatorium from the same geographical region probably represents (at least in part) correlated responses to the same environmental stress, a scarcity of insect pollinators.