| Abstract: | The pollination biology of different populations of Pedicularis rex Clarke C B. was studied in Zhongdian of Northwest Yunnan and in Kunming of central Yunnan, respectively. Seed production depends exclusively upon pollination by bmnblebees ( Bombus Latr. ). The flowers are yellow, with short-tubed, erostrate and nectarless corolla. Two species of the bumblebee workers, Bombus friseanus Skorikov and B. lucorum L. foraged in an upright (nototribic) position for pollen. Meanwhile, Bombus friseanus workers also foraged in an inverted (stemotribic) position on P. rex, vibrating pollen from the anthers within the galea. This pollination syndrome was previously reported in the North American species, e.g.P, labradorica which has the same corolla-type with P. rex. A comparison of the corolla types and pollination syndrome on the species of Pediadaris in East Asia and North America indicates that such a pollination syndrome may be only found in the primitive corolla type of Pedicularis. In spite of the separation in the geological history, P. rex and P.labradorica share the same corolla type and pollination syndrome. Further study is needed to elucidate the biogeography of the Pedicularis. |
