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- Title
IS CYCAS REVOLUTA (CYCADACEAE) WIND- OR INSECT-POLLINATED?
- Authors
Kono, Masume; Tobe, Hiroshi
- Abstract
Among the Cycadales (Cycaclaceae and Zamiaceae), the Zamiaceae are known to be insect-pollinated. In contrast, the Cycadaceae arc still considered wind-pollinated, although some doubt has been cast on several species, including Cycas revoluta. Using a large population of C. revoluta on Yonaguni Island (Okinawa, Japan), we performed exclusion experiments, documented insects from male and female cones, and analyzed the morphology of the apical part of the ovule to determine the pollination method of this species. Insect exclusion resulted in a notable reduction in seed set, except in a few individuals growing near male cones. The amount of airborne pollen was abundant within a 2-m radius of male cones but decreased markedly beyond this distance. Pollen grains of C. revoluta were found on the body of Carpophilus chalyheus (Nitidulidae, Coleoptera), one of a few species of insects collected from both male cones and female cones far from males. We conclude that C. revoluta relies on both wind (anemophily) and insect pollination (entomophily), although such anemophily is restricted to female trees growing within a 2-m radius of male trees. The nitidulids are not host specific to this cycad and primarily feed on plant tissue but serve as pollinators during pollen release. Cycas revoluta appears to be in an initial mode of animal pollination, as opposed to the host-specific insect pollination observed in most Zamiaceae.
- Subjects
POLLINATION; CYCADACEAE; CYCADS; INSECTS; POLLEN
- Publication
American Journal of Botany, 2007, Vol 94, Issue 5, p847
- ISSN
0002-9122
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3732/ajb.94.5.847