Reproductive patterns of selected understorey trees in the Malaysian rain forest: the apomictic species

HA, C. O., SANDS, V. E., SOEPADMO, E. & JONG, K., 1988. Reproductive patterns of selected understorey trees in the Malaysian raia forest: the apomictic species. Garcinia is the predominant representative of the Clusiaceae in the understorey of the lowland rain forest of Peninsular Malaysia. In Pasoh Forest Reserve the dioecious species G. paruifolia was investigated since no male trees, but only trees with structurally hermaphodite flowers which later set fruit, were found there. Pollination and embryological studies indicated a condition of non-pseudogamous agamospermy, with no viable pollen grains being formed in the staminodes, and the unfertilized egg cell giving rise to the embryo. Supportive studies were made of microspore development in G. forbesi , and of embryogenesis and seed development in G. malaccensis and G. scortechinii which also appear to be agamospermous. The role of either facultative or obligate apomixis in gene fixation in these dioecious species is discussed, and the possible adaptive significance of reproductive versatility among certain rain forest trees is examined.