Floral divergence and convergence in the genusPelargonium (Geraniaceae) in southern Africa: Ecological and evolutionary considerations |
| |
Authors: | M. Struck |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Botany Department, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X5018, 7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa;(2) Present address: Phyllobolic Institute, Gütersloher Strasse 64, D-33428 Harsewinkel, Germany |
| |
Abstract: | Based on field observations and a survey of the available literature, the functional and evolutionary significance of floral characters ofPelargonium is investigated in relation to a recent infrageneric re-classification. Most of the 208Pelargonium taxa (recognized as species, subspecies or varieties) involved show bee and long-proboscid hovering fly pollination syndromes (about 60% and 25%, respectively), only 7% of the taxa are pollinated by butterflies, some 2 to 4% by hawkmoths and presumably 1% by birds. The heterogeneity ofPelargonium in terms of structural blossom types and pollination syndromes indicates an independent and repeated evolution of convergent flower morphs in the genus and even in sections. |
| |
Keywords: | Geraniaceae Pelargonium Bees beeflies birds butterflies long-proboscid flies convergence evolution floral ecology pollination pollination guilds pollination syndromes Southern Africa |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|