中国特有种——沙芥繁育系统和传粉生物学研究

运用定位观察、杂交指数、花粉-胚珠比、套袋试验和重力玻片法等方法,对沙芥自然居群和人工栽培种群的开花日动态、繁育系统和传粉习性进行了研究.结果显示:沙芥在自然居群和人工栽培种群开花日高峰分别在19:00和15:00～18:00.沙芥繁育系统为异花授粉植物.沙芥传粉媒介中风的飘移能力非常微弱;沙芥自然居群的访花昆虫有19种,分属于6个目;人工栽培种群的访花昆虫有11种,分属于6个目.意大利蜜蜂、熊蜂、黑带食蚜蝇和拟蜂食蚜蝇是两个居群共有的主要传粉昆虫,在自然居群熊蜂每天的访花频率呈双峰曲线,其中访花最高峰与开花日高峰基本重叠.     

八角金盘传粉昆虫及其访花行为

八角金盘(Fatsia japonica(Thunb.)Dccne.et Planch.)为冬季开花植物,探讨其访花昆虫种类及访花行为对研究冬季开花植物的传粉生物学规律具有重要意义。对八角金盘访花昆虫种类、访花频率、访花时间、访花行为进行了初步研究。结果发现:八角金盘的传粉昆虫有2目、3科、3种,主要为膜翅目胡蜂科金环胡蜂Vespa mandarinia Smith、双翅目食蚜蝇科斜斑鼓额食蚜蝇Scaeva pyrastri(L.)及丽蝇科大头金蝇Chrysomya(Compsomyia)megacephala(Fabricius);八角金盘提供的酬物主要为花粉与花蜜,食蚜蝇舔食其花粉与花蜜,而金环胡蜂与大头金蝇主要吮吸花蜜;金环胡蜂、大头金蝇及斜斑鼓额食蚜蝇的访花高峰均在10:30—14:30;斜斑鼓额食蚜蝇访花时间较长,5～10min,金环胡蜂访花时间较短,8～30s,大头金蝇访花时间最短只有3～5s。八角金盘具有较低的自花授粉能力,但主要为异花授粉植物。     

芍药的访花昆虫和传粉昆虫

20 0 0～ 2 0 0 2年对内蒙古赤峰市高格斯台罕乌拉自然保护区内野生芍药 (PaeonialactifloraPall.)和内蒙古农校芍药园内栽培品种芍药的访花昆虫进行调查 ,经整理鉴定有 2 9种 ,自然保护区内芍药的访花昆虫种类有 1 7种 ,芍药园内的访花昆虫有 1 7种。根据传粉行为和数量的比较确定了自然保护区内主要传粉昆虫为丽斑芫菁、黄胫宽花天牛、黑胫宽花天牛、短毛斑金龟、饥星花金龟、白星花金龟和大淡脉隧蜂 ;芍药园内的主要传粉昆虫为意大利蜜蜂、棕边管食蚜蝇、长尾管食蚜蝇、大淡脉隧蜂、灰带管食蚜蝇和小淡脉隧蜂。     

大花铁线莲开花物候与传粉昆虫的研究

大花铁线莲是我国东北地区兼具优良观赏性状及药用价值的野生植物资源。为了研究野生大花铁线莲在引种地的开花进程和传粉规律,探讨引种环境对其开花特性的影响,该文于2017—2018年间对大花铁线莲在个体、群体水平的开花物候和传粉特性进行了连续两年的观测和统计。结果表明:(1)大花铁线莲的群体花期在5月中旬至6月中下旬,两年个体开花进程基本相似,均呈单峰曲线;群体始花期和末花期时间较短,而盛花期时间较长,约为20 d,单株花期为5~7 d,种群花期长达30 d以上。群体开花比例呈现先升后降的变化趋势,累计开花比例在开花后一周左右达到100%。两年的开花同步指数(Si)分别为0.76和0.74,说明大花铁线莲两年间的开花特性差异较小。(2)大花铁线莲访花昆虫主要有6目13科18种,它们在访花频率、访花行为以及在单花停留时间上都有一定的差异。传粉昆虫主要是8种,分属于3目4科。中华蜜蜂、短腹管食蚜蝇和狭带贝蚜蝇访花频率高,在单花上停留时间较长,可以初步认定它们在大花铁线莲的花粉传播中有重要作用。该文对大花铁线莲开花特性和访花昆虫的观查以及盗蜜昆虫行为的研究,为大花铁线莲的迁地保护和引种栽培提供了科学依据。     

封面照片:访花昆虫短毛斑金龟Lasiotrichius succinctus(Pallas)

访花昆虫主要指在显花植物上活动较为频繁的昆虫种类,包括传粉昆虫、天敌昆虫以及取食花朵的昆虫。     

白花野牡丹的开花进程、花部形态特征及访花昆虫观察

为了解白花野牡丹( Melastoma candidum f. albiflorum J. C. Ou)的开花进程、花部形态特征及访花昆虫的种类和访花行为,分别于2011年和2012年对栽培于深圳市中国科学院仙湖植物园的白花野牡丹花期进行观察和统计分析。结果表明：白花野牡丹的单花花期约12 h,7：00雌蕊柱头从即将开放的花蕾中伸出、8：00左右花朵半开放、8：30左右花瓣完全展开、16：00左右花瓣开始闭合、19：00左右花瓣完全闭合,翌日花瓣不再开放并逐渐萎蔫,至第4天花部完全脱落。白花野牡丹的花序为近头状的伞房花序,每个花序有3~8朵花;雌蕊1枚;雄蕊2轮(5+5,6+6),内轮雄蕊较短、而外轮雄蕊较长;不分泌花蜜。白花野牡丹花期的访花昆虫有2目5科13种,其中传粉昆虫有2科6种,包括领木蜂( Xylocopa collaris Lepeletier)、东亚无垫蜂〔Amegilla ( Zonamegilla) parhypate Lieftinck〕、蓝彩带蜂(Nomia chalybeata Smith)、彩带蜂(Nomia sp.)、中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana Fabricius)和绿芦蜂(Pithitis smaragdula Smith)。这6种传粉昆虫的访花行为、访花规律及传粉效率各异,其中,领木蜂、东亚无垫蜂、中华蜜蜂和绿芦蜂的日活动规律为单峰型,访花高峰期均在10：00或11：00;而蓝彩带蜂和彩带蜂的日活动规律为双峰型,2个访花高峰期分别在10：00和15：00。花瓣开始松动时,小体型的中华蜜蜂和绿芦蜂开始传粉;随着花瓣继续开放,中等体型的蓝彩带蜂和彩带蜂成为主要传粉者;花瓣完全开放后,大体型的领木蜂和东亚无垫蜂成为主要传粉者。研究结果显示：白花野牡丹花粉是传粉昆虫的惟一报酬;各传粉昆虫的访花行为与白花野牡丹的开花进程密切相关,因此,可以有效保证白花野牡丹的繁殖。     

紫花苜蓿的传粉昆虫种类及其访花行为

紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)属典型的异花授粉植物,其种子生产主要依靠蜜蜂等传粉昆虫.本文对河西地区张掖实验站紫花苜蓿传粉昆虫种类及其访花行为进行了调查.结果表明:苜蓿访花昆虫共计22种,分别属于4个目,11个科,根据弹花效率初步确定鳞地蜂、黑颚条蜂、净切叶蜂、细切叶蜂和紫木蜂为河西地区主要传粉昆虫;主要传粉昆虫的日活动规律出现单峰型和双峰型2种,净切叶蜂、细切叶蜂和紫木蜂属于前者,只在11:30-15:30出现一个活动高峰,而鳞地蜂与黑颚条蜂则为双峰型,在9:30-11:30和16:30-18:30分别出现访花高峰,不同的传粉昆虫之间存在互补关系;主要传粉昆虫的弹花频率和小花停留时间存在显著差异,且访花行为与野生蜂体型紧密相关.     

油茶传粉昆虫研究现状与方向的探讨

油茶是典型的异花授粉植物,其中虫媒是主要形式,所以利用野生传粉性昆虫来提高油茶授粉效率,解除花粉限制,是解决我国油茶产业"瓶颈"的有效方法之一。目前,关于油茶传粉昆虫的研究比较匮乏,仅限于传粉昆虫的种类调查和部分野生蜜蜂传粉生物学和营巢生物学特性研究,不能满足油茶产业发展的需要。在现有研究基础上,结合传粉昆虫研究发展趋势,本文将提出以下几个重要研究内容:油茶访花昆虫种类的调查和鉴定;主要传粉昆虫传粉生物学研究;优势传粉昆虫的筛选;野生传粉蜜蜂与油茶授粉间的关系;利用传粉昆虫与油茶的协同进化进行油茶品种选育。以期为油茶传粉昆虫的后续研究提供参考。     

濒危植物柄扁桃的传粉者及其访花行为

对濒危植物柄扁桃(Amygdalus pedunculata)访花昆虫的种类、访花行为、访花频率和日活动规律进行了研究.结果表明:柄扁桃的访花昆虫有5目17科19属21种,其中传粉昆虫为3目11科13属15种,主要的传粉昆虫为黑颚条蜂(Anthophora melanognatha)、密林熊蜂(Bombus patagiatus)、大蜂虻(Bombylius major)、黄腿食蚜蝇(Syrphus ribesii)及红足隧蜂(Halictus rubicundus);主要传粉昆虫的日活动规律差异较大,活动高峰期彼此交错;黑颚条蜂具有体积大、携粉量大、小花停留时间短等特点,为柄扁桃传粉的效率最高,今后应加强其生物学、传粉生态学方面的研究.     

毛乌素沙地固沙植物披针叶黄华主要传粉昆虫及其访花行为

披针叶黄华(Thermopsis lanceolata)是我国西部地区早春重要野生蜜源植物,也是一种重要的固沙植物,然而对其繁殖特性的研究甚少.本文在系统调查披针叶黄华的访花昆虫基础上,确定其主要传粉昆虫种类、访花行为、传粉过程以及日活动规律,以期揭示主要访花者行为对其有性繁殖的影响.作者在内蒙古毛乌素沙地设置1个10m×10 m的样方,于2010和2011年在披针叶黄华盛花期,采用目测、拍照和摄像等方式对传粉昆虫进行观测,记录样方内主要访花昆虫种类、数量、访花行为及日活动规律.研究表明,大和切叶蜂(Megachile japonica)和戎拟孔蜂(Hoplitis princeps)是披针叶黄华的主要传粉者,但两种昆虫的访花频率存在显著差异;晴天时,大和切叶蜂在19:00-13:00和16:00-18:00出现两个活动高峰,而戎拟孔蜂只在11:30-16:30出现1个活动高峰,两种蜂的访花活动高峰期存在互补关系.大和切叶蜂访花同时具有盗蜜行为,但其盗蜜行为对披针叶黄华的结籽率没有显著影响.根据种群数量、访花频率综合判断,大和切叶蜂是披针叶黄华优势传粉蜂.     

Contribution of diurnal and nocturnal insects to the pollination of Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) in southwestern China

Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is being increasingly planted worldwide, but questions remain regarding its pollination biology. This study examined the contribution of diurnal and nocturnal insects to the pollination of monoecious J. curcas, through its floral biology, pollination ecology, and foraging behavior of potential pollinators. Nectar production of both male and female flowers peaked in the morning, declined in the afternoon, and rapidly bottomed during the night in all of their anthesis days. The diurnal visitors to the flowers of J. curcas are bees and flies, and the nocturnal visitors are moths. Flowers received significantly more visits by diurnal insects than by nocturnal insects. Through bagging flowers during night or day or both or exclusion, we compared fruit and seed production caused by diurnal and nocturnal pollinators. Both nocturnal and diurnal visitors were successful pollinators. However, flowers exposed only to nocturnal visitors produced less fruits than those exposed only to diurnal visitors. Thus, diurnal pollinators contribute more to seed production by J. curcas at the study site.     

Pollination and breeding system of the enigmatic South African parasitic plant Mystropetalon thomii (Mystropetalaceae): rodents welcome,but not needed

• Unrelated plants adapted to particular pollinator types tend to exhibit convergent evolution in floral traits. However, inferences about likely pollinators from ‘pollination syndromes’ can be problematic due to trait overlap among some syndromes and unusual floral architecture in some lineages. An example is the rare South African parasitic plant Mystropetalon thomii (Mystropetalaceae), which has highly unusual brush‐like inflorescences that exhibit features of both bird and rodent pollination syndromes.
• We used camera traps to record flower visitors, quantified floral spectral reflectance and nectar and scent production, experimentally determined self‐compatibility and breeding system, and studied pollen dispersal using fluorescent dyes.
• The dark‐red inflorescences are usually monoecious, with female flowers maturing before male flowers, but some inflorescences are purely female (gynoecious). Inflorescences were visited intensively by several rodent species that carried large pollen loads, while visits by birds were extremely rare. Rodents prefer male‐ over female‐phase inflorescences, likely because of the male flowers’ higher nectar and scent production. The floral scent contains several compounds known to attract rodents. Despite the obvious pollen transfer by rodents, we found that flowers on both monoecious and gynoecious inflorescences readily set seed in the absence of rodents and even when all flower visitors are excluded.
• Our findings suggest that seed production occurs at least partially through apomixis and that M. thomii is not ecologically dependent on its rodent pollinators. Our study adds another species and family to the growing list of rodent‐pollinated plants, thus contributing to our understanding of the floral traits associated with pollination by non‐flying mammals.

     

Intersexual mimicry and flowering phenology facilitate pollination in a dioecious habitat specialist species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myristica fatua</Emphasis> (Myristicaceae)

Myristica fatua is a dioecious specialist species restricted to the endangered, freshwater Myristica swamp forests in the Western Ghats, India. Earlier studies have alluded to pollination by deception in members of the Myristica genus, and thus we examined the pollination ecology comprising floral biology, flower production, flower visitors, and reproductive success in M. fatua and inferred the potential strategies that could permit such deception in this habitat specialist tree. Male flowers provide pollen rewards for an extended period of time while female flowers are rewardless and both sexes are visited by generalist insects, mainly by honeybees and stingless bees. Bee visits were significantly more frequent and longer on male than on female flowers as bees collected pollen from male flowers. We found that flower production patterns create a preponderance of males compared to females in the swamp populations. Using a model of honeybee color vision, we found the distance between the color loci of male and female flowers and based on minimum visual angle subtended by these flowers, we suggest that the two floral sexes cannot be discriminated by bees. Bees are likely deceived by the perceptual similarity of rewardless female flowers to pollen-offering male flowers and pollination is the consequence of foraging errors made by pollinators that encounter largely male–rarely female flower mosaics as they forage among clump-distributed M. fatua trees in the swamp habitat.     

Visitation rate of pollinators and nectar robbers to the flowers and inflorescences of Tabebuia aurea (Bignoniaceae): effects of floral display size and habitat fragmentation

Large floral displays favour pollinator attraction and the import and export of pollen. However, large floral displays also have negative effects, such as increased geitonogamy, pollen discounting and nectar/pollen robber attraction. The size of the floral display can be measured at different scales (e.g. the flower, inflorescence or entire plant) and variations in one of these scales may affect the behaviour of flower visitors in different ways. Moreover, the fragmentation of natural forests may affect flower visitation rates and flower visitor behaviour. In the present study, video recordings of the inflorescences of a tree species (Tabebuia aurea) from the tropical savannah of central Brazil were used to examine the effect of floral display size at the inflorescence and tree scales on the visitation rate of pollinators and nectar robbers to the inflorescence, the number of flowers approached per visit, the number of visits per flower of potential pollinators and nectar robbers, and the interaction of these variables with the degree of landscape disturbance. Nectar production was quantified with respect to flower age. Although large bees are responsible for most of the pollination, a great diversity of flower insects visit the inflorescences of T. aurea. Other bee and hummingbird species are highly active nectar robbers. Increases in inflorescence size increase the visitation rate of pollinators to inflorescences, whereas increases in the number of inflorescences on the tree decrease visitation rates to inflorescences and flowers. This effect has been strongly correlated with urban environments in which trees with the largest floral displays are observed. Pollinating bees (and nectar robbers) visit few flowers per inflorescence and concentrate visits to a fraction of available flowers, generating an overdispersed distribution of the number of visits per inflorescence and per flower. This behaviour reflects preferential visits to young flowers (including flower buds) with a greater nectar supply.     

Floral sexual dimorphism and flower choice by pollinators in a nectarless monoecious vine Akebia quinata (Lardizabalaceae)

We investigated the pollination system and movement patterns of pollinators among flowers of the nectarless, monoecious vine Akebia quinata in natural populations and experimental floral arrays. Female flowers did not offer any rewards for pollinators and were larger than male flowers. Pollinators of A.quinata , such as small solitary bees and hoverflies, clearly discriminated between male and female flowers. Hoverflies always visited male flowers and rarely visited female flowers. In contrast, solitary bees tended to visit female flowers first when entering the array, but then switched to male flowers within the same foraging bout. This tendency disappeared when the sepal size of female flowers was experimentally reduced to the size of male flowers. Thus, observed non-randomness in flower choice by solitary bees may be caused by female>male sexual dimorphism and may increase the chance of cross-pollination and lower the probability of geitonogamous pollination in a single visit to a plant. Therefore, floral sexual dimorphism in A.quinata is considered to be an adaptation for deceptive pollination associated with discriminating pollinators.     

Floral closure in response to temperature and pollination in Gentiana straminea Maxim. (Gentianaceae), an alpine perennial in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Floral closure may be induced by pollination and various other factors, but is rarely studied comprehensively. Different kinds of floral closure should have various effects on reproductive fitness of plants. Two contrasting types of floral closure were observed in the flowers of Gentiana straminea Maxim. in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The first type occurred prior to pollination during both gender phases, in response mainly to decreasing air temperatures. Flowers closed when decreasing temperatures approached 20°C and subsequently began to reopen the following day during mid-morning when air temperatures warmed to approximately 13–15 °C. This kind of floral closure can protect pollen grains on either stamens or stigmas, increasing fitness of both male and female. Following pollination, permanent floral closure occurred, although there was a delay between the dates of pollination and permanent closure, during which flowers continued to show temporary closure in response to low temperature episodes. The time required for permanent, pollination-induced closure varied according to the age of the gender phase, including a prolonged time before closure if pollination occurred early in the female phase. The retaining of permanent closed flowers increased both approaching (to inflorescences) and visiting (to unpollinated flowers) frequencies of individual plants when with fewer open flowers and the persisting corolla is further beneficial for seed sets of these pollinated flowers. Thus, two separate types of floral closure, one in response to environmental cues and the other in response to the age of each gender stage, appeared to have a strong influence on reproductive fitness in this species. These results revealed a different adaptive strategy of alpine plants in the sexual reproduction assurance in addition to the well-known elevated floral longevity, dominant role of more effective pollinators and increased reproduction allocation in the arid habitats.     

Relative importance of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators for reproduction in the early spring flowering shrub Stachyurus praecox (Stachyuraceae)

Generalized pollination systems may be favored in early spring flowering plants, as during this period pollinator activity is unpredictable. Many previous studies have concentrated on the importance of diurnal visitors in pollination, and consequently, information on the contribution of nocturnal visitors to pollination in early spring is limited. This study was conducted to evaluate the relative importance of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators in the early spring flowering dioecious shrub Stachyurus praecox (Stachyuraceae), in two temperate forests in central Japan. Visitors to the female and male flowers were observed during day and night, and their relative contributions to seed set were compared. The pollinator observations revealed that the diurnal and nocturnal insects visited both male and female flowers, and that the main flower visitors were diurnal small bees and flies as well as nocturnal settling moths. The diurnal and nocturnal flower visitors also acted as pollinators, as the pollen grains of S. praecox were attached to the insects collected from the female flowers. Pollination experiments demonstrated that the contributions of diurnal pollinators to the seed set were higher than those of the nocturnal pollinators. The results of this study indicate that S. praecox has a generalized pollination system, comprising both diurnal insects and nocturnal settling moths. Although the roles of diurnal insects are more important in the pollination of S. praecox, nocturnal settling moths may have a complementary role in early spring.     

Pollination of Schisandra henryi (Schisandraceae) by female, pollen-eating Megommata species (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) in south-central China

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The mutualistic interaction between insects and flowers is considered to be a major factor in the early evolution of flowering plants. The Schisandraceae were, until now, the only family in the ANITA group lacking information on pollination biology in natural ecosystems. Thus, the objective of this research was to document the pollination biology and breeding system of Schisandra henryi. METHODS: Field observations were conducted in three populations of S. henryi and the floral phenology, floral characters and insect activities were recorded. Floral fragrances were sampled in the field and analysed using TCT-GC-MS. Floral thermogenesis was measured with a TR-71U Thermo Recorder. Pollen loads and location of pollen grains on insect bodies (including the gut) were checked with a scanning electron microscope and under a light microscope. KEY RESULTS: Schisandra henryi is strictly dioecious. Male flowers are similar to female flowers in colour, shape, and size, but more abundant than female flowers. The distance between tepals and the androecium or gynoecium is narrow. Neither male nor female flowers are fragrant or thermogenic. Schisandra henryi is pollinated only by adult female Megommata sp. (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) that eat the pollen grains as extra nutrition for ovary maturation and ovipositing. Both male and female flowers attract the pollinators using similar visual cues and thus the female flowers use deceit as they offer no food. CONCLUSIONS: Schisandra henryi exhibits a specialized pollination system, which differs from the generalized pollination system documented in other ANITA members. Pollen is the sole food resource for Megommata sp. and the female flowers of S. henryi attract pollinators by deceit. This is the first report of predacious gall midges utilizing pollen grains as a food source. The lack of floral thermogenesis and floral odours further enforces the visual cues by reducing attractants for other potential pollinators.     

贠建全:广东荷包岛维管束植物名录

以分布于秦岭的金花忍冬（Lonicera chrysantha Turcz.）、忍冬（L.japonica Thunb.）、葱皮忍冬（L.ferdinandii Franch.）和金银忍冬（L.maackii（Rupr.）Maxim.）为对象,通过定位观察、人工授粉实验、人为设置实验斑块的方法对忍冬属4种植物的开花生物学特性、繁育系统、花色变化现象、传粉过程进行了研究。结果表明,4种植物的单花花期、花部特征存在差异。人工授粉实验显示,4种植物均存在一定的花粉限制,自交不亲和。除葱皮忍冬外,其余3种植物随着花色由白变黄,花粉和花蜜报酬减少、雌雄生殖能力逐渐降低;葱皮忍冬花变色后花蜜量变化不显著,且仍保留较强的雌性生殖能力。变色花的保留被认为是植物的一种生殖策略,通过增大植物的花展示来扩大自身的吸引力,以吸引更多远距传粉者访花。人为控制白、黄花不同数量比的实验结果表明,大多数传粉者偏向访问白花（变色前的花）,且白花提供的报酬量和黄花（变色后的花）数量显著影响传粉者的访花频率,即当花蜜量减少或黄花数量增多时,传粉者访花频率随之降低。因此,我们认为忍冬属4种植物的花色变化可能除了增大植物对远距传粉者的吸引力外,对近距传粉者的访花行为也可能具有一定的影响。当传粉者接近植株时,变色后的花可能暗示其花蜜（花粉）报酬已经发生变化,并驱使昆虫离开并飞向同株或异株植物新开放的报酬丰富的白花,这既有利于提高传粉者的觅食效率,又能降低植物同株异花授粉的几率,对忍冬属植物及传粉者都具有重要意义,是植物长期与授粉昆虫相互适应的反映。     

Using geometric morphometrics to determine the “fittest” floral shape: A case study in large-flowered,buzz-pollinated Meriania hernandoi

Premise

Floral shape (relative arrangement and position of floral organs) is critical in mediating fit with pollinators and maximizing conspecific pollen transfer particularly in functionally specialized systems. To date, however, few studies have attempted to quantify flowers as the inherently three-dimensional (3D) structures they are and determine the effect of intraspecific shape variation on pollen transfer. We here addressed this research gap using a functionally specialized system, buzz pollination, in which bees extract pollen through vibrations, as a model. Our study species, Meriania hernandoi (Melastomataceae), undergoes a floral shape change from pseudocampanulate corollas with more actinomorphically arranged stamens (first day) to open corollas with a more zygomorphic androecium (second day) over anthesis, providing a natural experiment to test how variation in floral shape affects pollination performance.

Methods

In one population of M. hernandoi, we bagged 51 pre-anthetic flowers and exposed half of them to bee pollinators when they were in either stage of their shape transition. We then collected flowers, obtained 3D flower models through x-ray computed tomography for 3D geometric morphometric analyses, and counted the pollen grains remaining per stamen (male pollination performance) and stigmatic pollen loads (female pollination performance).

Results

Male pollination performance was significantly higher in open flowers with zygomorphic androecia than in pseudo-campanulate flowers. Female pollination performance did not differ among floral shapes.

Conclusions

These results suggest that there is an “optimal” shape for male pollination performance, while the movement of bees around the flower when buzzing the spread-out stamens results in sufficient pollen deposition regardless of floral shape.