Bumblebee-pollination and temporal change of the calyx tube length in Clematis stans(Ranunculaceae) |
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Authors: | Dohzono Ikumi Suzuki Kazuo |
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Institution: | (1) Makino Herbarium, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan,;(2) Yamaguchi Prefectural University, Yamaguchi, Japan, |
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Abstract: | Clematis stans is dioecious semi-arboreal, with pale purple–blue, nodding, tubulous flowers in a paniculate inflorescence. Both male and
female flowers produce nectar from the base of the calyx tube during a flowering period of 3 or 4 days, and are pollinated
by two bumblebee species, Bombus diversus and B. honshuensis, with different proboscis lengths. When the flowers open, four sepals constructing a calyx tube separate at the top and their
respective tips gradually curl up, so that a tubular part shortens. Observations at two field sites showed that B. diversus (with a longer proboscis) most often visits the flowers with a longer calyx tube, and B. honshuensis (with a shorter proboscis) the flowers with a shorter calyx tube, i.e., later in the flowering period. By changing the calyx
tube length, the flowers of C. stans accept the two bumblebee species with different proboscis length as pollinators and thus increase the chance of pollination
for each flower. It was also found that the two bumblebee species prefer the male flowers to the female flowers, although
the female flowers secrete more nectar as a reward than male flowers. This is likely because they visit the male flowers to
collect pollen grains in addition to nectar.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Bombus diversus Bombus honshuensis Clematis stans Flower morphology Pollination biology |
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