POLLINATION AND SEED SET IN DIERVILLA LONICERA (CAPRIFOLIACEAE): TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF FLOWER AND OVULE DEPLOYMENT |
| |
Authors: | James D Thomson |
| |
Institution: | Ecology and Evolution Department, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, 11794 |
| |
Abstract: | Ovule development in Diervilla lonicera (Caprifoliaceae) is limited by insufficient pollination early in the blooming period and during extensive rainy periods. Production of flowers is skewed in time; an initial burst of flowering is followed by a long period of sparse flower production. Ovule number per flower increases through the blooming period. I discuss the interactions of fruit and seed set, ovule number, and bumble bee pollinator visitation patterns. When certain flowers have a higher a priori probability of successful pollination, it may be advantageous for plants to put more ovules in those flowers. Selective ovule deployment may be a general adaptive phenomenon that has received little attention. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|