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- Title
Reproductive behavior of Colletia paradoxa (Rhamnaceae).
- Authors
D'Ambrogio, Ana; Medan, Diego
- Abstract
Various aspects of the reproductive biology of the perennial hermaphrodite Colletia paradoxa were studied by combining data over several years from both wild and garden-grown individuals. Flowering extends from summer end to mid winter, with a peak in autumn. The white, entomophilous flowers are adichogamous and last 5-14 days, but pollen transfer takes place only on days 1-3. A mild, vanillin-like odour along with nectar and pollen attracts over 20 insect species, of which 5 are probable pollinators. These are mainly Diptera, but also include the domestic honeybee. Reproduction in C. paradoxa is exclusively sexual and xenogamous, with pollen transfer depending solely on insect vectors. Although flower morphology and phenology do not prevent self-pollination, and geitonogamy can easily take place, autogamy was not detected. Hence, some self-incompatibility mechanism is operative in this species. Only 25% of the flowers initiated fruits, and just 6.1% from the flowers fully developed capsules. Fruit initiation was apparently pollen-limited at the flower level. Higher rates of fruit initiation and fruit ripening occurred late in the flowering period. Many seedless fruits completed development. The seed/ovule ratio in fruits bearing viable seeds was 42.7%. Predispersal (maternal) reproductive success (percent ovules becoming viable seeds) was 2.6%. For mature individuals this corresponded to over 17000 viable seeds per year.
- Subjects
PLANT reproduction; PERENNIALS; PLANT species; CULTIVARS; FLOWERS
- Publication
Darwiniana, 1993, Vol 32, Issue 1-4, p1
- ISSN
0011-6793
- Publication type
Article