Breeding systems of Ardisia Sw. (Myrsinaceae)

Five species (A. escallonioides Schltdl. & Cham., A. hirtella Lundell, A. elliptica Thunb., A. sieboldii Miq., and A. wallichii A.DC.) from three subgenera in the genus Ardisia (Myrsinaceae) were examined for self-compatibility, agamospermy, and autogamy using hand-pollination and pollinator-exclusion experiments on both garden plants and wild populations. All five species are self-compatible but not agamospermous. Four of the five species exhibited autogramy. Autogamy was strongly associated with stamen position, anther dehiscence type, protogyny, and inflorescence type. Because self-compatibility is widespread across different subgenera, it may be a general characteristic of the genus Ardisia. The potential impact of self-compatibility on the mating system and population genetic structure is discussed.